Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Fri Dec 21 23:55:24 2007

> Hi Tom
>
> I am fairly certain you would agree with Dr. Yeager’s conclusion that hip and shoulder rotation is generated from the transfer of momentum as the front leg stops the body’s forward movement. I was wondering if you also agree with his quote below?
>
> “If forward momentum is not stopped and if body segments turn at the same time, maximal energy transfer will not result. If one were to attempt to crack a whip by rotating in a circle without stopping the hand, and therefore not transferring energy, the goal of cracking the whip would not be attained. However, if we stop the whip and then allow the whip to sequentially stop down the line, then we'll get the desired result.”
>
> Jack Mankin


Jack,

I know this question is for Tom, but I have a question and statement on what you ask. I have heard the "whip" theory discussed before and I have heard Dr. Yeager mentioned in conjunction with this, I am not familiar with Dr. Yeager, can someone explain what is being talked about?

Now I keep hearing about stopping forward momentum to create the "whip" action. When I hear this I see in my mind the body moving forward and then the front leg straightening and stopping all movement and then you rotate the hips. IMO you do stop forward momentum but you don't stop it dead you redirect it by opening the hip early right at or slightly prior to toe touch. The momentum is moving forward but as the hip opens and clears, now as the front leg starts to firm up the lead hip is out of the way which causes the forwrd energy to move around my body.

Now how it applies to the hands and arms. The hands are following a circular path forward when they get to contact they don't stop and snap the barrel forward they continue in a circular path, which causes the bottom hand to circle back and the top hand continues to move forward, which makes the bat work around the hands. Giving it a "whip" type of feel because the momentom of the bat will eventually pull the arms staight.

It's late right now so I may be rambling. Please let me know if I'm way off base here.

Thanks,
Graylon