Barry Bonds' swing: makes him the most feared hitter in the game.

COMPACT, QUICK, SELECTIVE, smooth, explosive and sweet are some of the adjectives that describe the bat swing of Barry Bonds. But ask the San Francisco Giants' slugger about it, and that subject is off-limits.

Like a gourmet chef with a secret recipe, Bonds is wary of giving away anything about how he keeps his bat cooking. The five-time National League MVP says he has never talked publicly about his swing and won't until after his career is over.

Bonds' swing isn't unique, says Hall of Fame-bound Tony Gwynn. What separates him from the pack, Gwynn says, is his ability to consistently get his hands and body in optimum position to hit almost any pitch fair.

"He can discuss it, and he can describe it anyway he wants to," Gwynn says. "But good hitters have been doing this for years. You read Ted Williams' book, Charlie Lau, Rod Carew, Dusty Baker. I've read them all, and everybody talks about the same thing. You've got to get in a position so that your hands can work so your body can work.

"And that's what Barry Bonds does," Gwynn says. "He gets in position, he lets his hands go and, in letting his hands go, his body goes where it's supposed to go."

Gwynn was the consummate contact hitter during his 20 years in the majors, eight times the National League batting champion. The former San Diego Padres right fielder says the same swing principles apply to great home run and contact hitters.

"Once you make contact, it's whatever you are," Gwynn says. "Whatever type of hitter you are, that's what's going to come out. I'm not sitting here saying you're going to do the same things Barry Bonds does. But if you get to the proper position, whatever it is you do, you'll do it better.