teacherman-
you asked for "it" :
1- it
2- teacherman IS rightabout some things
but he is wrong on some points and wrong to not be aware of some key points he is therefore unable to take a position on
BBscout and buster-
The G Brett type swingis optimized to take best advantage of Ted Williams suggestion of getting more time by closing the stance and setting your contact points back. Brett,however, had to figure out how to make it workin a full swing.
As buster points out,in golf closing the stance is sometimes used to cure or avoid slicing or to draw the ball (minihook).It works by encouraging the inside out hand/clubpath smilar to "hide hands" cue inhitting. In hitting Bonds, for example has said you close your stance if you want to pull the ball.
If you close the stance, then you have to make some other adjustments.
To not close off the inside location/ to deal with the inside pitch,you have to get off the plate in the stance
Next, for good rotational swing quickness,you must make sure the weight shifts forward and the center of gravity does not fall back before contact.This principle is well known in golf and became an important part of the Lau teaching in hitting. When you close the stance, it discourages the necessary positive move and the swing is forced out too much, losing the inside start crucial to a good load.
Finally, this is a longer (swing radius) swing which creates a heavy load/resistance to rotation,so if coil and connection are not good, the torso can poop out of energy to keep the bat accelerating causing wrist roll compensation- deceleration-reacceleration.LauSr andJr may not completely understand these issues,but they certainly knew how to describe and teach this Brett type swing:
1-strongemphasis on positive move/weight shift
2-strong emphasis on stride then swing with lead arm knob pull and prevention of top hand dominace- this prevents the outsid-in rushed/interrupted swing-
3-lead arm extension and top hand release - this encourages the right ongoing connection/lead arm extension sequence to keep the swing accelerating to contact, avoiding the wrist roll compensation/deceleration/reacceleration or what Lau describes as the 2 piece swing.
If you want to emulate G Brett, follow the Lau advice.
The underlying principles of the swing are best explained in golf by Jones- BOBBY JONES ON GOLF, see for example Chap7 and Chap 9
Perhaps there is another forum for discussing how golf appplies for the few who may be interested.