Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Wed Nov 28 14:01:43 2007

> I will agree that too much stretch will decrease the chances of maximizing power and hitting the ball but the stretch is there and is required to have a great swing. <<<
>
> Hi Dave
>
> During my study, I used equipment as, or more, advanced than Skill Technologies. I agree they can give more precise data. However, for all practical purposes, I have found that the findings I made with a Motion Analysis Computer, I can also be make with video analysis.
>
> You state, “I will agree that too much stretch will decrease the chances of maximizing power and hitting the ball but the stretch is there and is required to have a great swing.”
>
> And there within lies my concern with the X factor. To say that a greater X factor (separation) produces a greater “torque angle” for maximum power is misleading. As Tom and Teacherman points out, some of the games’ best hitters open their hips a good number of degrees before the shoulders rotate. However, I can show clips of equally good hitters who have little or no hip rotation prior to shoulder rotation.
>
> Therefore, the degree of separation greater than that obtained during the inward turn, is more a matter of style than a necessity. Just as a longer stride is not necessary to produce power, neither is a greater X factor – at least not for the baseball/softball swing.
>
> Jack Mankin

Jack et al -

Zigs conclusions were that the most important thing was the coil ending with a last quick stretch which makes the unloading quick and adjustable late. This is why Zig said that Epstein was largely but not entirely right. Epstein had seemed to state that more was better and more than 30 degrees "torque angle" or x-factor equated roughly with 30 homers per full mlb season.

Zig's point was that some stretch ending with the quick stretch was desirable, not too much stretch.

As Zig said, "more is not better".

Zig measured the initial separation for good mlb hitters up until the end of prelaunch tht as averaging 15 degrees (hips turned back 25 degrees, shoulders turned back 40 degrees0, then there was an additional "x-factor stretch" of 12 degrees developed during "drop and tilt" so overall x-factor maxed out at 27 degrees.

The key is the last quick stretch producing the stiffness/elasticity needed to jump start unloading when coil reverses.