Using left hand for some mechanics

[SAump]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

SA, this is how i do it. I step away from the plate, point to mypartner with myleft hand and ask him "Did he go?" If the answer is yes, then I signal the strike with my right hand.

I have adopted the new left hand check swing appeal after reading the last thread on this topic. I still find that I hammer strikes "down" and punch outs "in all directions." All are done with a CLOSED fist and most of these punches RISE with respect to initial placement of my right hand on my right knee/thigh. Sometimes I throw a left jab or a right cross or a right uppercut and sometimes I punch straight out or up above my head. I usually always hold my closed fist OUT there momentarily.

I still have rabbit ears for bench jockeys who pretend to be confused about what my strike or out mechanics look like after the first inning. I hate when they whine or insist on correcting my mechanics, as well as my judgment and eyesight. I find it ironic that coaches have found a very weak excuse and that it SEAMS to work. I could lower my level by arguing with the little guy or I can adopt a strategy to avoid it altogether. I could argue against the left hand point further or I can GROW. I have chosen to adopt the NEW left hand mechanic.

[TussAgee11]

Well if you are going to point at the plate on a HBP where you are going to call a ball, then you should probably being pointing to first when you are going to award first. All with your left hand.

[BigUmp56]

The difference is that on a HBP that the batter didn't attempt to avoid, pointing to the plate area tells everyone what you had on the play. If you use the proper mechanic on a walk and just verbalize "ball four", the batter-runner and everyone else don't need the added directions on how to get there.


Tim.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by SAump

I have adopted the new left hand check swing appeal after reading the last thread on this topic. I still find that I hammer strikes "down" and punch outs "in all directions." All are done with a CLOSED fist and most of these punches RISE with respect to initial placement of my right hand on my right knee/thigh. Sometimes I throw a left jab or a right cross or a right uppercut and sometimes I punch straight out or up above my head. I usually always hold my closed fist OUT there momentarily.

I still have rabbit ears for bench jockeys who pretend to be confused about what my strike or out mechanics look like after the first inning. I hate when they whine or insist on correcting my mechanics, as well as my judgment and eyesight. I find it ironic that coaches have found a very weak excuse and that it SEAMS to work. I could lower my level by arguing with the little guy or I can adopt a strategy to avoid it altogether. I could argue against the left hand point further or I can GROW. I have chosen to adopt the NEW left hand mechanic.

SA Ump, is there such a thing as an "OPEN" fist?

[SAump]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

SA Ump, is there such a thing as an "OPEN" fist?

Yes, it is a combination of an extended right hand pointing finger and/or thumb, ala the older strike/out call mechanics. Some umps don't want to entirely close the fist.