SECTION1-2

The existence of these two different mechanics doesn't mean that there are poor and correct mechanics. Rather, each of two types has completely sophisticated mechanics, and therefore, they show different features respectively. In other words, there are two types of correct hitting mechanics. 

Having said that, there is a difference in the adaptability to today's baseball between those two types. That is to say, while various aspects of baseball have changed over the yeas, the features of puncher-type mechanics have turned out to be more adaptable to today's baseball. 

As a result, puncher type has gotten overwhelming majority in recent MLB. There was a revolutionary change of the hitting mechanics during from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. 

Figure5: Both ends are right, but the center is wrong. 

Figure6: Chronological table showing the transition of majority. 

Let me cite two instances for understanding the change of hitting skills that occurred in baseball history: slow-pitch softball and wiffleball (movie1-4). As for slow-pitch softball, Long Haul Bombers, a team of home run hitters, is clearly expressing what I want to say here. In the environment where pitch speeds are slow and hitters are required just to hit many home runs, swinger-type mechanics likely to be preferred.
On the other hand, in the case of wiffleball, pitches move unbelievably, and therefore, hitters are forced to concentrate just on making a contact — an environment where puncher-type mechanics likely to be preferred.

Wiffleball & Slow-Pitch Softball: Upper left is wiffleball and upper right is slow-pitch softball (Long Haul Bombers). The batting stance of the wiffleball hitter looks like that of Albert Pujols, and the hitting mechanics of the softball hitter looks like that of Babe Ruth.
 

Since this classification method is not based on superficial appearance but on essential acceleration mechanism, it differs from so-called linear-rotational classification method in which the width of stride is an important factor for classifying. 

Figure7: Example of web site dealing with Linear-rotational problem that is frequently discussed in American baseball circles. 

For example, Bryce Harper and Jose Bautista (movie1-5) are classified into puncher-type in spite of their large stride, on the other hand, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams (movie1-6) are classified into swinger-type in spite of their small stride.

Figure8: Bryce Harper (puncher), Joe DiMaggio (swinger). 

As I mentioned above, this puncher-swinger classification method doesn't depend on the width of stride. Even if a hitting mechanics has a small stride like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams, as long as it uses the momentum of weight transfer as its driving force, that mechanics can be classified into swinger-type.

Likewise, even if a hitting mechanics has a large stride like Bryce Harper and Jose Bautista, as long as it doesn't use weight transfer as its driving force, depending on explosive muscle contraction, the mechanics can be classified into puncher type.

Figure9: Carlos Gonzalez: In spite of the dynamic weight transfer, his mechanics can be classified into puncher type. His way of power production is closer to that of puncher-type experiment (p1-3) than that of swinger-type experiment (p1-2). 

By the way, swinger-type mechanics requires large stride to generate large power like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays. That is the reason why the number of swinger-type hitters has decreased in MLB. Since breaking balls and moving fastballs have been highly developed in today's baseball scene, hitters are required to have more and more compact hitting mechanics. 

While there certainly are hitters who cannot be classified readily into one type, most top-ranking hitters can easily be classified into one type. That is to say, pursuing one particular type thoroughly is the only way to get supreme hitting mechanics.
In other words, this classification method does not mean puncher-type is correct or swinger-type is poor, but means mixed or intermediate mechanics is poor.