Most agree that the swing path needs to have a slight upswing to it. It makes sense. The barrel goes down TO the ball but should turn UP THROUGH the ball. Most pitches (all except the riseball in softball) are on a downward trajectory as they cross the plate, so a slight upswing will get the barrel on a path that matches the path of the pitch. That's a correct and logical goal. That's the good.

But here is the bad. The mechanics that attempt to create that path range from arm dominant swings, to shoulder rotational swings, to hand barrel turning swings. While the 'hand barrel turning swing' is the only way to do it AND be within the high level pattern, they all can accomplish that path. But here is the problem ALL OF THEM possess. The concept of the UP THROUGH PATH, which OFFERS a timing 'margin of error'.....is actually used as the timing mechanism by amateurs. What? What did you just say? Explain the difference.

The timing margin of error IS NOT THE TIMING MECHANISM. Yet, the timing mechanics used by amateurs IS the sweeping path of that up through barrel.

Take a look at what Ted says was the wrong path above...the down to and down through the ball path. It's what I call a 'one point in time' swing. Because of the trajectory of the ball and bat....there is 'one point in time' that their paths cross. And therefore there is little or no timing MARGIN OF ERROR.

There is a HUGE difference between a timing mechanism and a timing margin of error. They are NOT the same. In fact....if your slight upswing is your timing mechanism.....you have little to no margin of error. That slight upswing that Ted loves happens AFTER launch. It happens AFTER the bat is DRIVEN DOWNWARD. It happens AFTER the barrel reaches the bottom of the swing arc. It is a PATH that a SUDDENLY LAUNCHED BARREL takes AFTER it reaches the downward most point in the swing. It is a path....that a swing swung with a one point in time TIMING MECHANISM....takes.

Here is the point. The upswing is basically the follow through. There is no force being applied at the time the barrel turns upward. THAT has already been done. The force that launches the swing was done instantaneously....suddenly.....like a twitch.....while the bat was still up and behind the hitters head. On a good swing at a good pitch, the barrel is no longer receiving force after the second frame of a 5 frame swing. It has been launched. Launched and spent. And now....if necessary....the arms and posture change the barrel's direction to match the pitch.

Most of you are reading this and saying 'duh....I know that'. Yet, almost everyone of you still don't get what is being said. Your timing mechanism was in play BEFORE launch....not after. Your timing mechanism said launch NOW....it happens BEFORE launch....and THEN you launch. But were you done? Amateurs are not done. They are not sudden. They launch THROUGH THE UPSWING. They are still applying force THROUGH THE UPSWING. They are pushing the barrel forward.

The upswing that Ted loved is THE PATH....not the line of force production. And if you're applying force through that path....your swing is long. Your swing is slow. Your swing is sluggish. YOU ARE DRAGGING THE BARREL. With or without your rear elbow leading your hands.

Without a 'point in time'....you have no timing. You MUST time....the barrel....to get to a spot...at the same time the ball gets there. You can not time a bat to sweep through a zone that the ball will be passing through. There must be a SPOT that you are timing the bat and ball to reach at the same time. THAT is what YOU do. THAT is the thought process that times your swing. And if you swing properly....your barrel will slightly turn up into the path of the pitch....and you will benefit from that path angle...and the resulting timing 'margin of error'. If you don't launch with 'point in time' timing....you will never have the timing margin of error. What should be your 'margin of error'....will actually be your timing. And you will struggle to square balls.

But what most do....is create the path first....and then accelerate the barrel through the path. That swing will never be sudden. That swing needs distance over which to apply force. That is the definition of a long swing. Doesn't mean it doesn't have bat SPEED. But it does mean that the swing QUICKNESS is not adequate.

There is only ONE high level swing pattern. And that pattern DEMANDS a 'point in time' SPOT that you launch instantly to....suddenly to. THAT is the timing mechanism. Having an instantaneous launch to a SPOT, to get the barrel there at the same time the ball gets there, is the timing mechanism. The 'margin of error' is the upswing that happens AFTER the launch....and 'corrects' your imperfect timing.

The swing must be over the instant it is launched....from an energy production stand point. Yes, the barrel continues through the path after the instantaneous launch. But if you enter the path before you launch....you will never consistently square bat and ball.

So....in summary....as you're in your stance....loading....reading the pitch....swing so that your barrel will reach a SPOT at the same time as the ball....and swing by turning the barrrel so that as the barrel gets to that spot....it turns upward.

Ted's large impact zone in the drawing above....is the PATH of a launched barrel.
Ted's small impact zone in the drawing above....is the SPOT....for the launch so that you may have optimal timing.