Didnt want to mess up the other threads with this twist.
One thing that I believe is a reality at the high school and collegiate level - now more than ever - is this:
The aluminum bat allows hitters to be successful without using many of the concepts you have so accurately (IMO) described.
Stretch and fire, the role and use of the hands, etc...
IMO - you can be successful (and subsequently be more resistant to change) using an aluminum bat - some strength and some hand/eye coordination - without utilizing the concepts you have presented.
But - then - you get the wood in your hand - you face the next level of pitching - and presto - your line drives into RCF become dribblers to the 2nd baseman.
Your bullets up the middle become "pick me ups" back to the pitcher.
The one thing I see that I dont like in HS and college aluminum bat baseball - more than anything else - is the "dead hands" swing.
I think the aluminum bat has been a major contributor to this.
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