Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Thu Feb 5 11:07:36 2004

my opinion:Very minimal backswing in golf,much more hands stay back while hips open.Question is how do hands stay back when you don't turn way back with a long club.All rotational hitter types seems to have the same basic sequence and almost all mlb's are rotational.

They resist the hips opening by back scap loading and by keeping hands in while turning/cocking and uncocking the bat(coil/rotation into toe touch,weight gets slightly forward when balanced at tote touch),then by the tilt of the shoulders when weight shift is blocked by heel drop and hips accelerate to max momentum/opeing velocity(xfactor stretch).

Very different "upper body loading"(coiling/tht) and "transfer mechanics"(chp and bht) from golf.

"lau swing"/Arod/Big Mac-more scap loading/more tht/longer swing radius/higher load/more baseline separation before xfactor stretch

Mankin/Epstein/Bonds-less scap load/less tht/shorter swing radius/lower load/less baseline separation before xfactor stretch

Lau encourages longer swing via landing flat on front foot with foot closed and Pulling knob(pulling knob is not linear motion,but is pulling knob back with top hand via scap load to increase separation/get more THT)then focussing on getting arm extension and top hand release (indirect cues that maintain connection,but with loang swing)

In the short swing,you land on front toe with front foot already open and less scap load/separation/lead arm stretch/swing radius/load.then creat slightly more load/separation if outside location is recognized.The key point is you can stay connected by BHT/hooking handpath/keeping hands in and the right kind of extension will happen.

In both cases some weight shift energy is used to boost hip turn/get xfactor stretch(while upper body still loading),before rotating and staying connected.Not nearly as much weight shift now as in old days when lumber was heavy and you had to get the axis stratightend up for high strikes.

Now you can get a light bat and choke up and the umpire won't give high and outside strikes and you can stay back and wait on the ball longer.