Pros and Cons of "Knob to the ball"???

[jbolt_2000]

I know there has been alot of discussion linear vs rotational, and I'm still learning, so please forgive my ignorance with this question....

I've been hearing alot about "knob to the ball" from online resources and fellow coaches. This term is used in linear hitting techniques, right?

The queue seems simple enough and the kids I think would understand it - "take the knob of the bat to the path of the ball, thus creating the whipping of the barrel to the actual point of contact."

But does this create automatic ground balls? I invision this que leading a batter to swing in a downward path, hitting the top half of the ball and causing grounders.

I know the mere mention of linear and rotational is bound to cause discussion, but I am looking specifically for info on this "knob to the ball" technique. Is it good/bad/indifferent?

[jbolt_2000]

FYI - the last few threads of Path of the Hands, and Swinging Down, has got me thinking about this in more ernst.

[BoardMember]

http://i16.tinypic.com:80/6f4rib6.gif

http://i14.tinypic.com:80/52pngpk.gif

[rkbenn]

IMO, knob to the ball is okay. Where young kids have a problem is they become disconnected, which is not okay. Definitely see jbooth in Path of the Hands thread, best explanation i've heard to date, it may help you in this thread.

[Jake Patterson]

IMO, knob to the ball is okay. Where young kids have a problem is they become disconnected, which is not okay. Definitely see jbooth in Path of the Hands thread, best explanation i've heard to date, it may help you in this thread.
Here's the link:
http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=89235

[rkbenn]

Here's the link:
http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=89235

thanks joe

[Drill]

Always thought it was knob to the inside of the ball and barrel of the bat to the ball.


drill

[rkbenn]

Always thought it was knob to the inside of the ball and barrel of the bat to the ball.


drill

hands or knob inside the ball is correct. it's not literary to the ball.

[Coach G]

I know the knob will be aiming at the ball at a point in the swing. However is it something that happens or something that should try to be accomplished? Personally I think that it is just a product of a swing.

[rkbenn]

I know the knob will be aiming at the ball at a point in the swing. However is it something that happens or something that should try to be accomplished? Personally I think that it is just a product of a swing.

I like it because it helps my kids get on plane. If the knob is going down they are swing down, and if up... Just a cue that works for me.

[jbolt_2000]

It sounds like this is generally accepted across the board. I thought it was one of those ques from a specific hitting style.

I read jbooths comments and it made alot of sense too.
Clint Myers, the ASU women's softball coach, and former baseball coach, uses the cue; "elbow, knob, barrel."

It can have two meanings; 1. The bent elbow moves toward the ball, then the knob, and then the barrel.

2. At contact with the ball, a line from top to bottom can be drawn from the elbow, to the knob, to the barrel. On a pitch that is at the waist or below, the barrel is below the knob, and the knob is below the elbow and they are all on the same line.

It's similar to MY cue of Hips, Handle, Head (bat Head).


So I guess my new question is; what would the focus be? Would you have the batter focus on getting the knob to the ball or more the elbow, then knob, then barrel?
Can you focus on getting the knob to the ball and the others follow suit?

[AgentX]

The hitter should focus on hitting the ball, and nothing else.

When practicing his swing, he should focus on executing proper mechanics.

The "elbow, knob, barrel" cue just gives him a point of reference for those mechanics. It's kind of up to the hitter to figure out what works for him.

[rkbenn]

The hitter should focus on hitting the ball, and nothing else.

When practicing his swing, he should focus on executing proper mechanics.

The "elbow, knob, barrel" cue just gives him a point of reference for those mechanics. It's kind of up to the hitter to figure out what works for him.

I agree when in the batters box, it's stride swing.