- A commentary by WebBall's Richard Todd

This section covers an approach to swinging a bat that was - when first introduced - both lauded and vilified. When we first introduced this series of articles by Paul Petricca, I myself did not know what to make of it.

I said at the time (this was back in 1997 - ancient history) that "WebBall neither supports nor criticizes this alternate approach to the bat swing. The biggest problem we see is the potential to really, really confuse a kid - if you teach this approach one season and his next coach tries to undo it. We ask all coaches to use their own best judgment - don't try to correct a player who's got something that works well, just because YOU have a different theory."

We believed then, and still do, that the point to consider here - to test, to experiment with - is the notion of strike zone vs. hitting zone, and just what pitches you intend to swing at.

As another hitting coach, LSU's Turtle Thomas, has pointed out - stats show that most swings that miss are under the ball - chasing high stuff, not being over breaking pitches. This question then moves into areas beyond mechanics, into the concept of hitting zones and the mental aspects of hitting.

To quote: "Only longer term study, with players willing to take the Petricca Torque into game situations, will really show how effective this alternative approach might be. WebBall will welcome all such reports, stats, and anecdotal insights."

Fairly recently, September 06, we received an email by a coach who has been working lately with the Petricca approach...

- from Coach 'PaPa' Leroy Moore, Cazenovia, NY (Babe Ruth 13-15 yr. old team)

First of all WebBall is the most informative baseball web site I've been to. I've enjoy spending these long Syracuse winters reading the different theories on baseball and have use several in my program here in New York. The one I would like to address and have used this spring is the Paul Petricca theory on torque hitting.  [Ed. note: praising WebBall is not a requirement for getting your opinons on our site.]

Believe me when I say, I took a lot of heat from the other coach's in our organization and players, for implementing this type of hitting in our program, but in the end many have become believers (not all). 

I've always subscribed to rotational hitting and torque to me is rotational hitting with certain locks in place that force a hitter to do all things we have trained them to do over the years. Keep your hands back, uses the shoulder and hips in unison, prevents casting and because of the bat speed great extension.

My experience, I've only used it this year, was mixed.

What I found was the players who have been playing ball for a long time had a harder time adjusting to torque then players who came out for the first time or just summer league players who didn't play school ball or at the higher levels. I not sure why, it could be muscle memory or it could just be the fact that most thought it looked funny and none of the pro's use it (you all know how kids are). 

Anyway, I had these three players who pretty much come out each year for their dads, go 1 for the season, do their duty and go away on vacation. During our first practice I had one of these kids in the batting cage and after 36 pitches, which he didn't come close to hitting, I though this would be a great time to try the Petricca theory. 

It was slow going at first, but after several practices the results were amazing, these kids not only started hitting, but hitting with authority, it was literally like night and day.  In our first game, a close one at that, one of these kids hit a bases loaded triple, off the center field fence 360 ft. away.  The ironic part was the other team pulled their outfield in, because he knew him from the year before.  If I sound excited, it's because I am. I'm not sure torque will work for every kid, but it shows a lot of promise and will remain a part of our program.