Hitting Styles - Continued - Player Photos

OK, I squandered some weekend time looking for photos of hitters. Try the link below and see:

1. Gary Sheffield. The ball is visible to the right (he has just hit it). His top-hand palm is up, and his hands have not rolled over.

2. Key Griffey, Jr. The ball has just come off his bat. His top-hand palm is up, and his hands have not rolled over.

3. Mark McGwire. The ball is on the bat. His top-hand palm is up, and his hands have not rolled over.

4. Tony Gwynn. The ball is gone, and the top hand has rolled over during the followthrough, BUT...

5. Tony Gwynn. The ball has left the bat, but this time the top-hand palm is up, and the hands have not rolled over. This means that either Gwyn's hands roll during the followthrough, shortly after contact and in the split-second between the different stages at which these photos were taken. He also may vary the hand action depending on the situation (likely).

6. Wade Boggs, driving an inside pitch. He is already into his followthrough, and his top hand is still mostly under the bat, palm-up.

7. Roger Maris. Notice how much his swing resembles Sheffield's (except Roger's head is farther forward). Again, the top hand is under the bat, palm up, after contact.

I could not find a photo of a pro hitter showing the top hand rolled before, during, or immediately after contact. There may be examples, but they sure are hard to find.

http://raincreekbooks.home.mindspring.com/hitters.htm