Optimal Launch angle is found in your timing. Imo.
Bonds ... catching the ball with the bat.
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FiveFrameSwing
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If you keep the hands up, and swing the barrel down, then you will automatically have an uppercut ... i.e., which is in agreement with 1CA's comment that you DON'T swing down through the ball.
The mentality works well to remove premature hand drop ... barrel flattening ... bat drag ... dbsf ... all of which are issues of a poor hand path.
The mentality works well to remove premature hand drop ... barrel flattening ... bat drag ... dbsf ... all of which are issues of a poor hand path.
FiveFrameSwing
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Launch angle is a result for those with a mentality of keeping the hands up and swinging down.
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FiveFrameSwing
Banned
Can't stress this enough ... someone instructing the concept of swinging down should not have the barrel heading down at contact.
Keeping the hands high? Or just higher than the highest strike? Higher than that doesn't equal better. Directing the knob with intent of down to is what should be the goal . Let's not complicate this simple easy cue .
An instructor shouldn't instruct with the barrel in mind , especially for beginners. The knob should be the focus
FiveFrameSwing
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Not so sure why many take offense to the notion of 'swing down'.
Take note of where the barrel was at 'swing launch'. Compare that to where the barrel is at 'impact'. The barrel has primarily been swung 'down' ... especially during much of the 'effort' proceeding the 'release'.
Take note of where the barrel was at 'swing launch'. Compare that to where the barrel is at 'impact'. The barrel has primarily been swung 'down' ... especially during much of the 'effort' proceeding the 'release'.
Launch angle is definitely tied into timing . You can have "high level mechanics" and still beat the ball into the ground or pop it straight up. Timing is and always will be king. No matter your mechanics .
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
Instead of "hands high", consider "hands up".
If you swing through an "upright vee" (i.e., power-vee, RVP, swearing-in position, explosion point position, etc.) then you are keeping the "hands up". That's stage one of keeping the hands up ... you also want to keep the "hands up", albeit it they actually lower, this point onward in the swing ... you attack from above ... and with the hands being a pivot point, the barrel will bottom out and swing upwards through the ball.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
I teach it either way ... whatever relates best to the particular hitter I am working with.
For me personally, I like to think of the bat head.
It is the "bat head" that we are making contact with ... albeit it is the "bat handle" that we are controlling. That said, I'm perfectly fine with a "bat handle" mentality.
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