Right elbow position

[Bigwill]

Which position makes it easier to achieve a deep-into-the-downswing pitch elbow position:

1. Trail elbow close to the body at the top of the backswing

or

2. Trail elbow farther away from the body at the top of the backswing

and why?

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

The in the elbow is "in" the easier it is for it to go into pitch position, the more the elbow is "out" the more it has to get back in to get into pitch position.

Go look at a swing sequence of freddie, he has a deep pitch elbow position even though he has a BIG flyn' elbow.

BUT

Watch how far that elbow moves from "flying" back to an "in position" before the rest of the downswing happens.

 

[Bigwill]

The in the elbow is "in" the easier it is for it to go into pitch position, the more the elbow is "out" the more it has to get back in to get into pitch position.

Go look at a swing sequence of freddie, he has a deep pitch elbow position even though he has a BIG flyn' elbow.

BUT

Watch how far that elbow moves from "flying" back to an "in position" before the rest of the downswing happens.

Could the distance involved in moving from the flying elbow to the pitch position contribute to more speed?

 

[Brian Manzella]

Could the distance involved in moving from the flying elbow to the pitch position contribute to more speed?

The very longest hitters do both.

MANZELLA DICTIONARY

ELBOW POSITIONS (downswing):

Pitch: Elbow, Hands, Clubhead
Punch: Hands, Elbow, Clubhead
Push: Hands, Clubhead, Elbow