Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Thu Mar 4 09:31:13 2004

Nyman has been very good at defining scap loading.

Loading just means creating tension/connection so the body can effectively develop force/transfer momentum through the shoulder complex as part of total body eccentric to concentric muscle action.

Beyond this,there are certain joint actions that may be involved in how this loading and unloading happens.

The most directly related action to load both scaps symmetrically in throwing and the back scap in hitting is pinching the shoulder blade toward the spine or horizontal adduction of the scapula.

Beyond this,I find there is a back arm loading sequence that is common to both throwing and hitting and that this sequence is synchronized with a similar sequence in the lower body(Nyman calls this tendency to synchronize "mapping").

When you sequentially load the throwing arm,it is usually thought of as steadily/gradually laying back(externally rotating) the arm,but loading the scapula is also important so the arm can be effectively connected to the torso.

In throwing,you break the hands with symmetrical arm action (symmetrical internal rotation) with the elbows up and the thumbs down so palms are facing out.This maps to internal rotation/knock knee action of the legs.

Next you continue scap loading (which began with elbow lift) by Nyman's "lift and pinch".This maps to the legs spreading apart/abducting.

Next the throwing arm begins laying back via external rotation.This is when the body really starts coiling.At the same time the glove arm continues internal rotation while the lead leg externally rotates/front thigh turns over synchronized with the external rotation of the throwing arm.The hip is beginning to open while the torso stays back supported by all these actions.The scap continues loading through these motions and beyond.

At this point the mechnics of the two skills diverge.

In hitting,the back arm internally rotates as the front knee turns in(bat tips toward vertical),then the back scap loads by pinch and lift as the stride foot goes out/legs spread (Start with a more spread out stance if you preload the back scap by a high pinched position in the stance/hands already in loaded position)-bat cocks toward pitcher/"centers".

Back scap stays loaded as lead leg and back arm externally rotate together.This is where coiling starts as you rotate into toe touch.The hips open and the torso stays back and the bat turns toward the catcher/uncocking.lead arm internally rotates to elevate lead elbow in plane and prepare for connection at initiation.Having the freedom for the back arm to start down toward the slot at this point via external rotation enables the bat to turn without tending to force the back scap to unload/disconnect or the bathead to extend orovershoot swing plane prematurely which can also rush things out of sequence/prematurely interrupt loading/twiating of the body/torso.

Next you dynamically create the xfactor stretch by boosting the hip turn at front heel drop (this boost comes later in throwing when the stride foot comes down to trigger the final "bow"-throwing is bow-arch-bow of the body,hitting is only bow-arch).Torso still stays back assisted by shoulder tilt and bat turning back.

Babe Ruth demonstrates this common throwing and hitting sequence well,see,for example:


http://www.setpro.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000374

I find this useful information for organizing video analysis.