Posted by: Jack Mankin (mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Jan 5 17:49:54 2004

Jack,

>>> I believe Coach's contention is the upper torso and arms, in unison, provide tremendous torque, which ultimately drive loose legs and hips with inertia.

He suggests, by tensing the legs, one can only introduce possible impedance to loose lower swivel motion. Leg action, in this sense, is explained as an indirect result of hip swivel, and small balance tuning.

There is some validity, if one can assert leg muscle power is simply too slow/underdeveloped to assist in hip drive, and that attempts to do so reduce fluid motion.

From my experience, however, the optimal approach is to heavily utilize the massive higher leg muscles (upper thighs and groin). These should -snap- initially. Lower muscles (calfs and ankles) are loose and provide only light balance.

This allows one to benefit from the most powerful leg muscle, while limiting concerns for timing of other loose connected tissue.

(Ideally, if one were fast enough, one could recruit all leg muscles - but transfer timing would be difficult. In order for all muscles to contribute maximally to batspeed, they must be fired and unfired at at high speed, and in a sequence directly related to transfer distance from bathead.) <<<

Hi Mike

You stated, “There is some validity, if one can assert leg muscle power is simply too slow/underdeveloped to assist in hip drive, and that attempts to do so reduce fluid motion.” – Is this a miss-print or do you actually believe this? If you do believe it, how do you justify your next statement. –“ From my experience, however, the optimal approach is to heavily utilize the massive higher leg muscles (upper thighs and groin).”

Why would you think the calf muscles are slower to react than the thigh muscles? Do you (or Coach C) have any evidence (published) to support these contentions?

Jack Mankin