Posted by: Coach C () on Thu Nov 6 11:42:20 2003

I think the lead elbow gets stabilized in the swing plane and applies torque opposing the top hand by "internal rotation" of the lead arm.This joint motion is necessary to get the bony point of the elbow pointing into the plane of the swing and not down to the ground."pronation" of the forearm won't do it.Tilt of the body won't do it unless it is extremely excessive,and even then there can't be tight connection.That elbow knob/bone has to point forward from launch to approach to contact.The lead arm has to internally rotate and stay there to do it.

When you say, "stay there", it sounds like you feel it should be attached to the body. The lead elbow must be free to slide across the body to free up the shoulder turn (especially on inside pitches). The lead arm works independent of the torso (not attached), but it works with the torso in unison. Tom this is why some great hitters feel their hands in the swing. If the arms work correctly (elbows included), the hands are free to feel fast. If one does not achieve the independent freedom of the front shoulder socket/elbow, the elbows snap and hand speed is the wrong cue. In addition, I couldn't disagree more with your assesment on body tilt. Spine tilt is accomplished in four ways forward, back, or side to side. In all great hitters/golfers the shoulder plane always matches the tilt of the spine from the waist. It's when the arms/bat are doing something different from the shoulder plane that hitters/golfers struggle. As for hip-cock, it can not be taught, without the correct impression of how the arms should work. Teach how the arms should work and hip-cock works automatically. In the case of my Son, who slots the elbow fairly well, never once has he been told to use his hips (yet he cocks his hips), if I said swing harder the hips would cock even more. However, if you teach linear/hands hitters to cock there hips, they will disconnect every time, because the arms are doing something different. Get the arm piece down and the hips work naturally, it's never been a two step process, even in golf. Look at Guerrero's clip and you'll see his lead elbow working independent of the shoulder turn after contact. Call it "follow through scap load" if you want.

Coach C