Posted by: Mike Myers (mike.myers@bell.ca) on Thu Apr 8 13:43:17 2004

Hi Jack,

I have reviewed The Final Arc. A few questions:

1. John, when instructing students on lower body mechanics, repeatedly says "front toe up" as he raises the student's front heel, and reverse-rotates the front foot back to the initial stride position.

Does he not mean "front heel up"?

2. Should the bat roll at all in any hand(s) during the swing. (Difficult to verify in video.)

3. I have observed THT can be largely accomplished by rolling the rear shoulder in an arc up, back, down, and around (finishing with the arm against the body with 90 degree elbow bend). This is a secondary arc path, initially perpendicular, and finally parallel to the full swing plane.

Is this observation correct?

4. I have suggested to a veteran hitting instructor the pitfalls of concentrating too much on back leg hip drive, without considering equal power contribution form the front leg. Needless to say, he was dismissive, indicating one would "spin out" too fast if they attempted this. He argued balance is better maintained if the front leg merely rolls with the front hip in a reverse arc.

The video appears to emphasize the front leg, suggesting more front than back leg power.

Exactly what leg power ratio do you expect in an ideal swing, (50% back / 50% front ?). (I don't see how hips can keep a completely circular arc if leg power is not contributed equally.)

Thanks,
Mike.