Brushing vs Hitting the ball

Robert Kumza Asked 6 years ago

The most experienced players at my club talk about brushing the ball so that it first touches the bat on the leading edge and rolls along the bat and exits the bat nearer the trailing edge.  WOW!  When I try my best to brush the ball, I see a mark on the rubber that is a slight oval shape with the leading edge of the oval fairly light and the trailing edge of the oval mark the darkest... but NO WAY I am able to brush the ball the way THEY describe it.  It seems almost impossible to me to brush the ball so that it leaves a long mark on my bat.  Please describe exactly what YOU mean when you say "brush the ball" and if you could see a mark on your bat, how long would the mark be?  1/4"?  1/2"?  1"?  2"?  3"?

THANKS for all your tremendous web videos!

Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago

Hi Robert,

The mark is similar to what your bat looks like.  It is not possible to have the ball drag across the rubber much further than that as it is hitting the ball and the ball is coming out of the rubber quickly.  However, if you can think about it like you are trying to drag it across your rubber as they describe then you should get the feel of it.

Also think about the sound that the ball makes.  You want it to be a softer sound rather than the louder sound of the ball going straight through the rubber and hitting the wood harder.

Glad you are enjoying the site.