Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Fri Mar 5 00:14:04 2004

>>> Great improvement!
> > > >
> > > > Suggestion for more clearity in your description of the mechanics. when i was young and my mom asked me a question i didn't know i would "shrug" my shoulders and answer i did not know. "Shrug" to me and i'm sure many others means raising your shoulders up to your ears in a shrugging fashion.
> > > >
> > > > To make absolutely certain that your readers understand what you mean i might suggest that you just change the words to say, "shrug your front shoulder "forward"... and to even futher explain the sequence i would add "and at the same time you are shrugging your front shoulder "forward" you shrug your back shoulder backwards."(erronously refered to on the boards as the "scap load")
> > > >
> > > > Let's have a poll... when you hear the term "shrug your shoulders" how many of you guys and gals think pull your shoulders up to your ears?
> > > >
> > > > Jack your the greatest!! keep improving, all the best, Rich <<<
> > > >
> > > > Hi Rich
> > > >
> > > > Now that you point it out, I can see where someone could view “shrugging the shoulder” differently than I do. My interpretation comes from my military tour. Our TI would always bring us to attention by adding, “Don’t let those shoulders shrug - Get your chest out.” I agree that using “forward shrugging” or maybe “inward shrugging” of the lead-shoulder could possibly add more clarity.
> > > >
> > > > As far as the term “scap loading” is concerned, someone needs to clarify just what “loading” actually means. I had always thought that loading a muscle meant it was being stretched in preparation to do work. Such as stretching the leg muscles by squatting before jumping. But when “scap loading” is used in reference to applying top-hand-torque, work is actually being done (accelerating the bat-head back toward the catcher). Therefore, the scap is not just loading (or stretching) in preparation to do work – something is contacting to perform that work.
> > > >
> > > > Pulling back on a bowstring pinches the shoulder blades together, but I would not call that “loading.” It would seem to me that the “forward shrugging” (credit to you, Rich) of the lead-shoulder we discussed earlier would be a more accurate example of “scap loading.” The muscles are being stretched or loaded in preparation to pull back the lead-arm and knob end of the bat.
> > > >
> > > > I suppose that “internal rotation of back arm” is referring to the wrist rolling in one direction or the other. However, I could be mistaken in my interpretation.
> > > >
> > > > Jack Mankin
> > >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > We actually have no idea what skap loading means. It what inveted by that NY man and you have to understand that he just makes up psuedo-biomechanical terminology to sound impressive.
> > >
> > > Melvin
> >
> > Hi Melvin,
> >
> > I perceive the "scap loading" as a masked term so Nyman does have to give Ferroli credit for his stretch position, or recognize Epstein's torque position. This is a clever way to steal other's idea. Merely a forethought.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > BHL
> > Knight1285@aol.com
>
> Another uninformed soul making accusations without doing the research.

Hi Teacherman,

I understand that you construe Paul Nyman as a mentor, and do not wish in any way, shape, or form to sever the discipleship betwixt both of you. Learning can be an arduous process; therefore, particularly in this day and age, it is essential to link the student to individuals capable of providing a plethora of insight.

In fact, I commend the way he orients individuals mistaking "cues" for mechanics to an article written by Mad Max, entitled "Cues Versus Reality." This crystallizes Mike Epstein's message: "style" is personal, while "technique" is universal.

However, why he believes the concept of scap loading is indigenous to him perplexes even me. His concept of "loading the shoulder" comes far too close to Steve Ferroli's concept of twisting the shoulder back, while opening the front toe. Nyman's reason behind the move--stretching the shoulder so that it can spring forward shortly after hip opening, so that both the lower and upper halves can power forward as a unit (i.e., turn in tandem)--also seems as if it had been lifted from Mike Epstein.

Yet, I might not be privy to other information about scap loading that other Setpro customers are used to. Please explain how scap loading differs from the ideas articulated in Ferroli's and Epstein's works that I have just described.

Cheers!
BHL
Knight1285@aol.com

P.S. As someone said in a post last month, heroes are important--Epstein is mine and Nyman is yours, having "taught you all about the bedside manner" at Setpro.