Anybody play baseball?

[SuperSword]

I was wondering if anybody here plays baseball and particularly if theres any good hitters. Im asking because some of the basic swordfighting techniques involve swinging the sword like a baseball bat. Also, hitting a fast moving ball must be good for developing the ability to hit targets with a sword.

[Master Artorius Vidnyl]

I'm not a baseball player but I do know quite a bit about cutting with a sword.  What part of the technique would you say you are looking to copy?  Swinging a lightsaber like one does a baseball bat is more dangerous for the person on the swinging end then the one defending.  Of course this is just my experience.  At any rate, what part of the "baseball bat swing" are you looking to incorporate into your saber technique?

[DirtyJersey]

I used to play baseball when I was younger, and was quite a good hitter. I'm curious where you're going with this, so please do fill us in with more info on what you seek.

[Master Nero Attoru]

Most swordsmanship techniques tend to use a VERY different approach when compared to baseball, as Artorius mentioned.  I used to play baseball as a kid, and my father and brother are BIG into it so I know a bit, but I would never use that kind of technique in the world of swordplay - too much power, not enough control.  Not only does this make your attacks somewhat clumsy, it also makes them DANGEROUS.

[SuperSword]

With the eight basic cuts in swordfighting, one of the cuts does resemble the swing of a baseball bat although it is not as wide and you don't wind up the way a batter does. It is a horizontal cut which does not cover as much area as a baseball bat swing, but the side to side motion is similar. Being a good hitter in baseball could probably help with that technique although it would have to not be as wide, and without winding up so much.

[Master Artorius Vidnyl]

Ah yes now I know what you mean.  Understand that in all of the forms of combat I've trained in with two handed sword technique I have always been taught that the baseball bat grip is a no no.  Power is two handed styles is derived from using the hilt like a lever, the small motion in the hilt (pull push) creates the most power at the end of the blade (this is mostly Japanese style here).  At any rate the baseball bat swing derives it's power from momentum which is not available in the type of cut you described.

Cheers.

[Qui-Tom Helms]

Punt, ooops wrong sport, Bunt. (ha)

[ThreadJack]

Punt, ooops wrong sport, Bunt. (ha)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfIA7lhsSKs" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfIA7lhsSKs</a>