Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 21 15:32:40 2007

>>> “IMO the lower body is opening while the upper body is working against it,” <<<

Hi Graylon

I would like to give you another point of view to ponder.

I would say your statement is evident with pitching mechanics. The clip I showed has the pitcher’s hips almost open while he is still resisting shoulder rotation. In fact, I have seen clips that show the pitcher’s hips completely open even before foot plant – one might wonder what powered the hips to open 90 degrees before the blocking of momentum could occur.

However, I do not think your above statements also applies to the batter (Bonds) in the clip. I would say that just the opposite occurred. The batter’s separation between hips and shoulders occurred during the ‘inward turn” to the launch position.

During the inward turn, the batter rotates his shoulders inward 30 or so degrees while at the same time “resisting” hip rotation. Then, as the swing is being initiated, he is not resisting shoulder rotation as the hips start to rotate. The batter’s hip rotation is actually inducing shoulder rotation rather than the batter attempting to restrict it.

Restriction to his shoulder rotation is not because Bonds intentionally held them back. – any restriction to his shoulder rotation is due the load on the shoulders of overcoming the bat’s inertia to acceleration.

Take another look at Bonds in the clip an note how little (if any) his hips rotate before his shoulders start rotating.

Jack Mankin