Rotational Hitting vs. Linear Hitting
What's The Key Difference?

2/11/2008

On the discussion boards I frequent, people often ask what is the key difference between Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting. In this article I discuss some of the things that are proposed as the key difference and what I think of those candidates.

The Weight Shift

One leading candidate for the key difference between Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting is the weight shift. Some people think that Linear Hitters shift their weight more, or differently, than Rotational Hitters. While there are some differences in terms of what happens after the front heel drops, I don't think they are significant. Both Rotational Hitters and Linear Hitters tend to shift their weight forward during their stride and then stop the forward movement of their weight after their front heel drops.

The Hand Path 

The hand path is often held up as a key differentiator between Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting.

Circular Hand Path 

Rotational Hitting is most often taught in the context of the circular hand path that you see in the photo above of Pete Rose. 

Linear Hand Path 

In contrast, Linear Hitting is most often taught in the context of the linear hand path that is demonstrated in the video clip above. In fact, that's the origin of the word "linear" in the phrase "Linear Hitting".
     The problem is that you simply do not see linear hand paths at the major league level.
     Even relatively linear hitters like Ichiro Suzuki still employ fairly circular hand paths. As a result, I do not think the hand path is a good differentiator between styles of swings, at least at the major league level.
     Of course, the fact that you simply don't see linear hand paths at the major league level also implies that they do not scale; while linear hand paths may work at the lower youth levels, they do not work in High School ball or higher because the defenses are simply too good.

The PRIMARY Source Of Power

A third candidate for the key difference between Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting is the source of power. This candidate has some merit, because there are significant differences in what teachers of Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting focus on.
     Teachers of Rotational Hitting tend to focus on the body as the primary source of power. The point of Rotational Hitting is to teach the batter to swing the bat with their entire body.
     In contrast, teachers of Linear Hitting tend to focus on the arms, hands, and wrists as the primary source of power. In fact, in many cases Linear Hitting instructors are deliberately trying to take the body out of the equation so as to slow down the swing and increase the time the head of the bat spends in the Contact Zone.
     Linear Hitting instructors think they can replace the power of the body with the power of the arms, hands, and wrists, but it's not an even trade. The size of the muscles involved is very different, which means that linear hitters have to sacrifice much of their power. That works at the lower youth levels and sometimes beyond if a hitter is particularly fleet of foot, but it still tends to top out before high school for most hitters.

Connection vs. Extension
At The Point Of Contact

While the source of power does explain some of the difference between Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting, I think the key difference between Rotational Hitting and Linear Hitting is the degree of connection or extension that is advocated at the Point Of Contact (POC).

Albert Pujols - Connection at the POC 

Rotational Hitting instructors advocate connection at the Point Of Contact, which is what Albert Pujols is demonstrating in the photo above. Notice how at the POC Albert Pujols' back elbow is bent 90 degrees and is relatively close to his side. This means that he is compact at the POC, which increases the rate at which his shoulders will rotate and thus increases his bat speed. 

Albert Pujols - Extension at the POC 

The other approach to hitting that is widely advocated is extension at the Point Of Contact. Young hitters, like I was, are taught to make the "Power V" at the POC and to extend through the ball as Albert Pujols is doing in the photo above. The problem with the idea of extending through the point of contact is that, if you study the physics of the swing, you will find that extending through the POC will slow down the swing dramatically. That is one reason why the result of the swing above was a pop fly and not a hit.

Rotational/Linear or Connection/Extension?

As I'm writing this essay, I'm starting to clue into why so many people have a problem with the terms "Rotational Hitting" and "Linear Hitting" and the (supposed) difference between them.
     The reality is that, at the major level at least, every hitter is rotational if you define that based on the hand path. You simply do not see any linear hand paths at the major league level. In fact, you don't see very many linear hand paths above the grade school level because they simply do not scale. As a result, the Rotational/Linear distinction really isn't meaningful, except at the fringes.
     In my opinion, a much more meaningful distinction is between Connection and Extension.
     What most major league hitters do is exhibit is Connection at the Point Of Contact. However, many -- and maybe even most -- major league baseball commentators advocate Extension at the Point Of Contact.
     As a result, what I am going to do from now on is focus on the Connection versus Extension debate instead of the relatively meaningless Rotational versus Linear debate.