Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sat May 3 12:12:41 2003

Hi guys,
> >
> > I, like the rest of you have been interested in this subject for a
long time. I put together the following clip a few weeks ago with
this question in mind: the bat in these clips is moving fast
enough to blur the picture. Where is it coming from?
> >
> > http://webpages.charter.net/nickkio/StartSwing.mpg
> >
> > Nick
>
> Good question. Good topic. IMHO I believe that is an excellent
example of tight connection. No Slack. The barrel moves at the
first sign of body rotation. What body part controls this?

Nickkio-

In Nyman and Epstein terms(MY interpretation,feel free to
correct),I think of the video analytic phases(influenced by
personal feel) of the swing as

1- inward turn/hip cock
2-scap load
3-toe touch
4-drop and tilt
5-launch

These clips for the most part show the beginning of the launch
phase,although in Bonds case,for example,there may be a
frame or so of "drop and tilt"/ongoing separation/loading going
on before the tightly connected(to a fully loaded torso) lead arm
starts to drive the handpath.

It is important to continue loading after the prior scap loading
phase and to begin opening/rotation of the lower body/hips
going into "toe touch", and before the"drop and tilt " phase.I
believe the toe touch phase is analagous to what Nyman
describes as the "stepover" phase of the overhand throw.It is
best felt primarily through "arm action"(big muscles moving
arms while back scap remains loaded-not handsy/wristy
action)rather than leg action.This could be what Jack describes
as "THT".Traditionally,it may be "forming the box"(or one/the
essential aspect of forming the box).The back elbow begins
down toward the slot primarily via external rotation of the back
arm.The lead elbow begins to "work-up" primarily by internal
rotation of the lead arm.The bat accelerates some back toward
the catcher.The torso reactively continues to load/turn back/
keeping the hands back.

The timing of "drop and tilt" (Epstein's torque phase/creation of
max separation before launch triggered by heel drop)then
triggers the swing which takes another frame or two(30 frames
per second) to "launch".These phases can get quite
compressed when you have to turn quickly on an inside
pitch.During this time,weight shift/blocking and remaining hip
cock combine to create max hip turn velocity to hook up and and
finish loading/twisting before the untwisting begins at launch.

During drop and tilt,as the heel drops,the weight shifts back,and
the shoulders also tilt as the torso continues loading with
ongoing internal rotation of the lead arm and the final part of the
back elbow dropping into the slot.Ongoing torso loading/
tilting(and superimposed posture adjustment to match plane)
makes it hard to separate the phases exactly

In Jack's 3 arc model,the bat arc begins as the hips open,then
the hip arc accelerates to max velocity,then the handpath arc
"launches".Most of these pictures are about at the moment of
"launch".

Jack prefers,I think, the quick/short radius type mechanics as in
Bonds and Aaron,but you can see some of this well on the get
off the plate long swing radius ones as well.

Your high resolution clips of Chipper Jones(?120 frames per
second) are particularly nice along these lines.

Thanks for the great clips and for wading through this.Also
thanks to Paul Nyman for his ongoing insight.