Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Tue Sep 9 13:58:32 2003

rql-

I agree the lead elbow gets more "level" the higher the location.However,there are several things all going on together during the swing that affect the elbow motion/feel.This is how I think of it.

1-generic loading/unloading action discussed in more recent threads where the top hand/back arm go through a universal loading sequence(scap load/prelaunchtht/tht at launch,etc.) that gets interrupted(by tight connection to turning torso) sooner for short inside location swing radius and later for outside location,higher load,longer swing radius.During the arm action of loading,the top hand is loading back and staying back with the back shoulder.The bottom hand is working around the top hand moving the knob to get on plane(top hand continuing to load/hands staying back until connection pulls things forward at launch).As launch is approached,after scap load,the lead arm internally rotates-elbow turns up as arm gets in plane.This prepares for connection which finishes when front scap loads in right position for swingpath radius(inside short radius,outside long radius).The front elbow works up/internally rotates beginning slightly before toe touch and continues to firm up/get on plane/stay on plane while heel drops,maximum separation and connection are created and launch begins as the bottom hand pulls the bat to begin the handpath/circle/arc/hook.There is always the feel of the front elbow working up(internally rotating) a little at toe touch/heel drop/launch.

2-"weight shift"- not too much to do with elbow motion,but weight starts/stays on inside of back foot,and center of mass/center of gravity moves on a line toward pitcher(not off to one side or other) as these other motions are ocurring.Center of gravity needs to be behind weight bearing portion of front foot when resistance is applied at heel drop(or else you are stuck with weight too far out front) to help the uncocking of the hips boost hip rotation to maximum velocity/momentum at the right time to start the energy transfer upward.This also affects how much your axis of rotation leans back or forward which affects plane some.

3-getting on plane- as the weight goes forward and the generic loading begins,you are also "sitting to hit" so that the amount of bend at waist is the main factor in setting plane.You always will swing roughly perpendicular to spine in momentum plane of torso rotation,so you change the angle of the torso to match the plane by how much you bend at the waist.Another part of getting on plane,however,is how much you lift the front arm up off the chest.So for a high ball,you not only have less bend in the waist and lean back on the axis less,you also lift the front arm more up off the chest.This is the main factor that creates the feel of "getting on top" of the ball(less lean back and less bend at waist also contribute.This is what "levels out the swing" or makes the lead arm more level to the ground.Epstein uses the weathervaning cue which describes the feel of how the elbow works on the "approach" to contact(after launch,before contact-"original work up" at toe touch heel drop was from internal rotation and connection getting elbow up and in power plane).For high ball lead arm is up off chest,swing levels out and elbow "works down"(relatively speaking).For low ball,lead arm is on chest,you lean back more,you bend more at waist and the elbow "works up" on the approach.All these adjustments happen together to some degree to make the up down plane match.