Posted by: Shawn () on Thu Feb 12 14:10:11 2004

>>> I agree with the back-side through the front-side terminolgy, I find it helpful in teaching the BHT Jack has described. As far as the legs go for me....get the swing plane right and the legs do the right thing.....problem I see is that most don't have the swing plane right placing the legs into the act of compensation (for balance). However, if one was having success with driving the back knee down, I'd stick with it, especially if my buddy RQL is likes it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Had a youngster tell me the other day....you know what it's not front-side or back-side, it's shoulders as a unit. I said "exactly!" this is coming from a kid who used to pull the bat with his front side, by trying to turn the lead shoulder back or by pulling the lead arm. It's not always as simple, but in this particular case, we worked (in slow motion) the act of driving the backside throught the front and feeling the bat-head release, through BHT. The transformation has been miraculous for him. We never talked about the legs. Bat/Shoulders must work as a unit in my opinion.....same plane. So I think that on lower pitches there will be some spine tilt....certainly more than would be on a high pitch. Bonds definitly does this!
> > > > >
> > > > > Think shoulders/bathead same plane....get BHT torque right to feel the bathead release (as Jack has stated) and the legs will work correctly. <<<
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Coach C
> > > > >
> > > > > Well stated. The ultimate purpose of all swing mechanics is to apply forces to the bat that generate maximum acceleration of the bat-head into a predicable swing plane. If accelerating the bat-head is not foremost in the batters practice sessions, he may wind up with good hip and shoulder rotation but a bat that lags behind. --- "Of what use is a 1000 HP engine .. if the transmission slips."
> > > > >
> > > > > Jack Mankin
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thanks Jack!!! It was nice to meet you...take care!!
> > > >
> > > > Coach C
> > > > >
> > >
> > > I would agree when things go well there is the "connected feel" of the shoulders/arms/hands/bat getting loccked together for the last bit of coiling and the first part of uncoiling.Then connection is continued through contact with the lead shoulder pull back/bht/handpath hook .
> > >
> > > Epstein talks about a "one-piece" feel similar to the takeaway in golf,but I think this takeaway(initial inward turn) happens with a different feel in hitting.I feel the takeaway as a 2 piece action (first piece is internal rotation of back arm with hip cock,second piece is scap load as stride foot goes out)then comes the gradual establishment of the one-piece feel as you rotate into toe touch and drop and tilt.
> > >
> > > Here's a setpro thread with a golf plane rear shot of aaron:
> > >
> > > http://www.setpro.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000200#000001
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Tom,
> >
> > I also think that shoulder and bat turning in these clip, is Aaron just pulling the hands in (or just keeping the hands in). It's not the mechanical view of how BHT is created. Must mean Hank was more of a top hand hitter.
> >
> > Shawn
>
> Dear Shawn and others,
>
> This post was actually precipitated by me attempting to share with batspeed.com regulars some "cues" to facilitate natural hip rotation over time. It came about as a result of stumbling upon some interesting information on page 12 of Mike Epstein's support forum at Mikeepsteinhitting.com. For referential purposes, you access the topic by scrolling down 19 threads on page 12, until you come to a topic posted by John Abreu entitled "Stance." After the main topic, if you go down four responses, and click on Greggie's response, you will notice that he tells Epstein that dropping the heel does not facilitate hip rotation. Epstein's response to him--the fifth response--contains some "cues" I talked about for solving that problem:
>
> 1) Bring the back heel up slightly as you drop the heel (do not squish the bug)
> 2) Turn the back knee slightly down and in
> 3) Rotate the back hip slightly around its axis.
>
> Do these moves--one at a time, at first, then simultaneously.
>
> Eventually, these proactive moves will become reactive, and hip rotation will occur as a reaction to dropping the front heel.
>
> My original intent here was to supply those struggling with "cues" to attain hip acceleration with useful ones.
>
> But this topic is really taking off--and I am getting a plethora of new ways to facilitate the same movement. Tom, Shawn, you have any more setpro clips showing initiation? This is getting interesting! Too bad we cannot post clips here for illustrative purposes!
>
> Best wishes to all, and looking foward to more clips!
>
> Sincerely,
> BHL
> Knight1285@aol.com

BHL,

That is a good thread. Mike Epsteins information is a hitting system with mechanics. The short version is hips opening while the upperbody is in the takeaway. For this to happen it starts on the backside and finishes on the front side. The cue of winding the rubber band sets up the above (hips leading). The work done on the backside should be automatic with the cue of winding the rubber band or torque, hips starting to open in the stride while the hands are still going back. Therefor he uses the front foot as the trigger for the hips and swing.

Without the right visuals or cues this doesn't happen, such as the thread indicates. The front heel dropping doesn't trigger the hips or the swing.

Foot cues are OK, such as back heel up front heel down, toe then heel. There are natural reflexes running through our feet.

If everything is working correcting with how Epstein explains the swing. The stride serves as rhythm and pre-swing (winding the rubberband) and to reestablish the balance point or setting the axis. When you get to the toe the swing is about ready and you just drop the heel.

It's not just the front foot triggers the hips or opening to 45 degrees, it's part of a system with cues and visuals of how to swing.

Shawn