Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Wed Nov 28 10:22:54 2007

Jack -

I think this is an area where the details are very important "analytically". As you have described, the fact that the front and back shoulders/scaps have a range of motion makes things difficult to measure/discuss etc.

The "excessive counter rotation" or separation/x-factor is probably more of a SPINE COIL thing than the proper positioning or "loading" and subsequent motion of the scaps/shoulders.

Nyman had an important observation that scap action was important from an analytical point of view in the throw and swing, but to SOME degree, the scap action tends to be a "no-teach" (slaved to hand/arm action), and the scap loading action in hitting that Nyman chose to emphasize or "functionally describe" was largely in error (better for throwing). The scaps do not "function" by quickly loading and unloading in the swing as Nyman suggested. Nor do they function primarily by just shrugging/unshrugging in the horizontal plane, so called horizontal aDduction ("pinching") or horizontal aBduction (unpinching).

This horizontal aspect of shrug/unshrug IS important for setting swing radius/in out adjustment, BUT the scap/shoulder elevation/lowering ("tilt"/"untilt") is extrememly important in stretching the torso mouscles (power generator) so THEY can load/unload quickly (via "x-factor stretch") using an optimal blend of soft tissue - not just muscle - stiffness and elasticity and reflexes. This stretch and fire/"connection" in essence "bypasses" the shoulders as compared to the Nyman "belief" that the shoulders swing the arms by rapid scap load/unload/horizontal plane/turn. Instead, it is the "lateral tilt" which is more elevation/lowering of the shoulders/scaps that controls well timed and directed loading of the torso and which is NOT a rapid load/unload action, but rather a matter of tilting the shoulders down and in in front (with inward turn) and later untilting them (with drop and tilt/tht at launch).

As you have pointed out, the shoulders need to be "positioned" or loaded or prepared by tilting the lead shoulder down (lowering scap) and in (unpinching/horizontal aBduction) early with the inward turn.

BUT this action should NOT be creating separation by coiling the spine AND this action is accompanied by elevation of the back scap and some pinching/horizontal aDduction which is more under the control of the back arm and hand as the "loading"/inward turn/hip cock/hand cock proceeds (and hence more of a "no-teach" as far as scap focus).

So, in addition to sorting out the horizontal scap action which has more to do with swing radius/overall load/resistance to rotation AND the up/down scap action which has to do with good torso loading, you also have to think of "separation" in terms of spine coil between the shoulder and hip level. This type of separation needs to be minimal early or it creates "excessive counter-rotation".

Good thing this pattern we are trying to describe is a naturally occurring one.