Posted by: () on Mon May 3 18:51:58 2004

ray-
>
> Nyman has described the swing as a load/unload cycle.
>
> My interpretation of this likens it to the golf swing,especially xfactor and xfactor stretch.
>
> In golf for years there was emphasis on separation/xfactor and also on club position at the
> top of the swing.More recently,the importance of the last bit of stretch and the first bit of
> reversal has been emphasized,This is analagous to what nyman has described as total
> body eccentric to concentric muscle action (muscles developing force while stretching and
> contracting).See link:
>
> http://www.skilltechnologies.com/XFactorStretch.htm
>
> see especially conclusions about the importance of "dynamic tensioning" and the fact that
> maximum separation is during the downswing.Club position at top is also important.
>
> Liewise,in hitting,maximum separation ideally happens AFTER the torso has started
> turning forward because the hips are opening faster than the torso.The actual uncoiling/
> unloading/reversal happens when the bat is about in the "lag" position and is not a single
> moment in time but an overlapping of coil and uncoil as unloading works from the middle
> up supported by the front leg which has created a base fist permitting blocking to boost
> the hips to maximum turning speed,then deceleration of the hips to transfer energy to the
> torso as the unloading begins.
>
> Analagous to the club position requirement in golf,the clubhead must stay in until the hips
> have decelerated/transferred momentum or the bat will cause prmature interruption of
> loading.
>
> So the time course of load/unload is important as is the clubhead position.
>
> Another bit of important data is from Zig's study which confirms the increased separation
> for outside as opposed to inside before the x factor stretch is superimposed on the body
> which has rotated into footplant(hips open/hands still back/rubberband winding as one
> cue would describe it) so it is positioned to benefit from blocking/transform "linear"
> momentum into "rotational' momentum.See,for example:
>
> http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/output/10533.html
>
> and
>
> http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/output/10593.html
>
> Unloading is the as near as possible to instantaneous transfer of momentum as coil/
> stretch reverses. So the load/unload reversal happens after the "CHP" has started and is an
> overlapping middle up thing.Unwinding from middle up needs to remain in sequence(no
> rushing ahead of shoulder link) and bathead needs to stay in until hips start to decelerate
> (which can often be seen by when back foot drags).
>
> I am rushed,so will stop here and correct/explain more as needed.
>


tom,

thank you. i had doubts about your views on loading and separation difference for outside and inside pitches, but i've done some reviewing and came across an old thread at setpro, that has given me pause. Specifically responsible is your response in the thread (a very keen observation). For your info the thread is "________ is down, ______ is up!" started by Major Dan, 12/20/2001. A great read.

thanks again,

ray porco