Method for pivotally swinging and hitting an object

Abstract

A process for more accurately delivering a hitting device to a ball, including positioning a stiff and straight leading or front leg at the start of and during the process (with no step forward of the front foot or leg) until after contact with the ball, pointing and planting the leading or front foot at least partially in the direction from which the ball is traveling, positioning the hands and the hitting device such that the distal end of the hitting device is below the shoulders and the hitting device is held substantially parallel to the ground at the start of the process, delivering the hitting device directly forward in the same plane as the ball is traveling, and utilizing pivoting of the torso and hips about an axis to deliver the hitting device to a ball with little or no forward or lateral movement of the body.

1 . A method for pivotally swinging a hitting device and hitting a ball comprising the steps of:
 providing a hitter in a ready position before swinging a hitting device, the ready position comprising a stiff and straight leading leg, where the stiff and straight leading leg is positioned toward the direction of an incoming ball, where the hitting device is positioned at a height that is entirely below the hitter's shoulders, where the proximal end of the hitting device is positioned toward the direction of the incoming ball, and where the hitter is holding the hitting device;   waiting for the ball to travel towards the hitter while maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg;   swinging the hitting device, where swinging the hitting device comprises delivering the hitting device toward the direction of the incoming ball while maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg; and,   pivoting the hips and torso of the hitter, where the hips and torso and shoulders pivot about an axis that extends from above and down through the hitter's head, through the hitter's torso, and through the leading leg and foot   whereby there is negligible head movement and no weight shift to the leading leg of the hitter throughout the method.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of swinging the hitting device additionally comprises the hitting device being swung within a swing plane substantially coincident with the movement plane associated with a projected travel path of the incoming ball. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting device is a baseball bat. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is a baseball. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of swinging the hitting device and pivoting the hips and torso of the hitter are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         6 . A method for pivotally swinging a hitting device and hitting an object comprising the steps of:
 straightening a leading leg of a hitter at the knee to produce a stiff and straight leg before commencing a swing with the hitting device;   positioning the hitting device below the hitter's shoulders before commencing a swing with the hitting device;   waiting for the object to travel towards the hitter while maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg,   swinging the hitting device, where the hitter swings at the incoming object while maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg; and   executing a pivotal motion, where executing the pivotal motion comprises pivoting the hips and torso about an axis that extends from above and down through the hitter's head, through the hitter's torso, and through the leading leg and foot,   whereby there is negligible head movement and no weight shift to the leading leg of the hitter throughout the method.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of swinging the hitting device comprises the hitter swinging the hitting device within a swing plane substantially coincident with the movement plane associated with a projected travel path of the incoming object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of pointing a leading foot at least partially in the direction of the incoming object before commencing a swing with the hitting device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of positioning the hitting device such that it is substantially parallel to the ground before commencing a swing with the hitting device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the hitting device is a baseball bat. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the object is a baseball. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the hitting device is positioned toward the incoming object before swinging the hitting device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for pivotally swinging a bat and hitting a baseball comprising the following steps in order:
 providing a hitter in a ready position waiting for the baseball to be thrown by a pitcher, where the ready position comprises holding the bat, a stiff and straight leading leg, a back leg which is bent, hands in the vertical middle of the strike zone that are close to the hitter's torso, and the bat positioned such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the ground and a knob of the bat is directed towards the pitcher;   maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg while the baseball is thrown by the pitcher and while the baseball travels towards the hitter;   starting the swing, where starting the swing comprises maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg, pivoting the hips of the hitter around a defined axis, then moving the bat and hands in a forward direction and not in a downward direction, maintaining the longitudinal axis of the bat parallel to the ground, where the defined axis extends down through the hitter's head, through the hitter's torso, and through the leading leg and foot;   continuing the swing, where continuing the swing comprises maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg, maintaining the longitudinal axis of the bat parallel to the ground, moving the hitter's hands away from the torso as the bat moves towards the baseball, and pivoting the hips, torso and shoulders of the hitter around the defined axis;   making contact with the baseball using the bat; and   finishing the swing, where finishing the swing comprises maintaining the stiff and straight leading leg;   whereby the hitter's weight does not shift forward during the swing.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of pointing a leading foot at least partially in the direction of the incoming object before commencing a swing with the hitting device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the hitter's head has no rotation during the swing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the hitter's head has no movement toward or away from the pitcher during the swing.