Posted by: Coach C () on Fri Aug 8 07:01:55 2003

I'm confused about a couple of things here.
>
> 1. Coach C - you say "The swing I see is dominated by the
> left-side pull. This is what causes the back-side to drag... Do not
> pull with the front side!!!!!" In response to last month's post, you
> said "the lead side is clearing the way for the hands to come
> through, but unfortunately the hands can't catch up to the lower
> half at contact". But Jack said he saw "strictly a back-side swing
> with little or no help coming from the lead-side". Is that a
> contradiction? My left hand is pulling and dominating, but
> contributing little or no help? Could anyone explain that in
> different language?
>
> 2. Teacherman, you say "there is some rotation going on but not
> connected rotation... [y]our doing everything with the pull of your
> arms... In your swing those muscles may move but are they
> doing the moving. I believe your arms are causing the torso to
> move rather than vice versa". Okay, granted just because I'm
> turning doesn't mean the cause-and-effect is going the correct
> way. How can I tell if my hip-turn is leading to arm speed, or if
> they just happen to be going on at the same time? How do I
> prove, or cause, or work on, the "connection"?
>
> And, thanks to everybody who's expressed an opinion.
>
> Matt

Matt,

Put a batting glove under your lead arm pit and learn to pound a tire or bag. Resist the urge to pull the lead shoulder but rather turn the back shoulder into the bag. The batting glove will help keep the hands back. Another tool that I find useful is to get a hit-a-stick, but don't hit it.....rather swing it. Swing the hit-a-stick your way and you'll wrap it around your neck on the follow through.

Matt let me leave you with a mental image. If you were swinging a tree (100 ft long, you know Fred Flintstone style) and someone was throwing you a ball...the goal would be for you to get the end of the tree on the ball. Any small chance of hitting the ball would be lost if you were to drag the tree as you do the bat. Rather you need to have an awareness of where the sweet spot of the tree is and how to get it there. There is no pulling of the tree, but rather a body assisted blow from the upper body.....lower body supporting. Hope these ideas help.....they do me!!! You are pulling the tree Matt. Maybe Jack would agree that you are not using the front side correctly.........I'm sure he would!!

Respectfully,

Coach C