Posted by: () on Thu Oct 16 22:17:26 2003

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> > > http://www.members.aol.com/bellshw2/test2.movI don’t profess to have then solutions.
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> > Some interesting things in this video.
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> > 60 frames persecond.Extremely limited reaction time,equivalent to baseball 100mph heater(Wagner throwing 101 out of hand takes 13 frames at 30 frames persecond to get to mitt,this takes 12 and 1 half, or 23 frames at 60f/sec, to get to contact).This emphasizes the necessity of learning the quickest posible rotational mechanics in fastpitch.One reason rotational mechanics are so slow to consciously spread in fastpitch is that they are degraded with linear elements that are poorly thought out in an attempt to shorten things(knowledge improving,but not adequate in many cases).Rivera demonstrates some "flaws" in this regard,but still does well,probably because she can compensate with superhot technology(in addition to being a great player).
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> > The main problems I see are getting on the stride foot early,then excessive "counter-rotation".
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> > She has the rotational hooking handpath/BHT down well,but she is missing the extremely important added quicknes of good tht.She would do much better if she now emulated a "double strider"/clickback stride like Sosa or Lugo.This may be the same approach "Hitman" is taking.
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> > In my opinion,THT requires learning how to use the right muscles in the right sequence to cock and uncock the bat while synchronizing upper and lower body motion(see recent posts to Sandman).Do it right and you can get superquick/supershort with good plate coverage.Do it wrong and you "wrap" the bat or eliminate adequate preswing rhythmic motion and in either case lengthen the swing with the absence of well timed THT.
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> > The double stride/click back stride should accomplish the "inward turn" as the toe touches at the click back,then the hip should cock as the back arm internally rotates in synchrony with the stride leg internal rotation as the stride foot lifts from this toe touch.Then the back scap loads as the front leg abducts/goes out,then the back arm and stride leg externally rotate together going into toe the second toe touch.This gives the right loading sequence,the right synchronization of upper and lower body and a stable biomechanical/anatomic configuration thet prevents bat dragging.This accomplishes/permits good "transfer mechanics",including uninterrupted loading and unloading, and tht.
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> > In the case of fastpitch,instruction has traditionally removed the preswing rhythmic activity and eliminated the cocking and uncocking of the bat.As you minimize these "displacements" it becomes harder and harder to load and unload well and have decent transfer mechanics.I would recommend fuller body motion(some rhythmic preswing activity and a stride) to get the sequence and synchronization down at an early age and then shorten up if you can and it works.No stride would be a more advanced technique after learning the basic sequence with some stride(single or double).(you might also use no=sride as part of backward chaining/piece drills where you work on the rotational aspect of the swing/hit into heavy bag before then backing up and adding the torque/tht/upperbody loading portion).
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> > In this clip,Rivera gets out on the front foot early,then is stuck there and has to create a long load/unload by excessive counter-rotation.Arm action sequence and upper/lower body synchronization are degraded.
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> > Jack's theory has really pointed out the importance of the shoulder/arm/hand link in minimizing counterrotation and quickening the swing.Scap loading as pointed out by Nyman is a key piece of this for "cocking the bat",tht happens when you "uncock the bat" the right way.This optimizes the load/unload/launch sequence.
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> > Better bat cock/uncocking and better synchronization of upper and lower body by back arm/scap and front leg hip working together would likely improve Rivera's quickness/results.
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> no luck opening this footage?????

Try this. Just give it plenty of time to load.

http://home.mindspring.com/~rmk/test2.mov