Posted by: Coach C () on Mon May 24 22:13:26 2004

Hi BHL
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Basically, I would say your description is correct. I would amend the following description. – “Once in that position, the batter initiates the swing by thinking about squishing the bug on the front foot and spinning the back hand around the front hand simultaneously. (In actuality, the former will occur a split instant before the latter). Although the front foot is opened only 45 degrees to prevent the premature opening of the front shoulder, when the bug under the front foot is squished, it will have opened 90 degrees, and the batter will be initiating a swing from a powerful position.”
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > There is no absolute way a batter should plant the front foot. I teach batters to stride to a fairly closed foot. I point out that they should land on the ball of the foot with ample flex in the knee. As they initiate rotation, they should think “rotate the heel – rotate the bat-head.” In other words, as the heel lowers, they should also rotate the heel back toward the catcher opening the foot 45 or more degrees. The extension of the lead-knee aids in driving hip and shoulder rotation.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I stress the importance of “rotate the bat-head” as they initiate body rotation. Accelerating the bat-head around the swing plane is the ultimate objective of all swing mechanics. The reason they rotate their body is to rotate the bat-head (first, in an arc back toward the catcher). They should keep this foremost in their minds – not as an afterthought to generating hip rotation.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Note: I have yet to find a student who did not automatically rotate the hips 30+ degrees to facilitate rotating the bat-head back toward the catcher.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Jack Mankin
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It's me again......Why have the hitter concentrate on his foot when its the hips that govern that foot?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hi Teacherman,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Mike Epstein once argued that "kinetic energy works upward," which is an undisputable fact.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Note: In this post, I am striving to transcend my pre-conceived notion of mechanics, even though I will always support pulling every pitch. Even if I am agnostic as to whether THT exists in its pure form, I still can use the concept, even if I am hazy about it, to improve my swing.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Teacherman, how does the hips govern that foot? JJA, Tom Guerry, RQL, grc, and SBL all dislose their reasons why they believe a mechanic works / fails to work. I am not trying to be antagonistic here, but I want to know your reason why. Even if my high-profile character clashes with your low-key personality, that does not necessarily mean that we can not engage in meaningful conversation, and learn from each other.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now, back to the topic: I think that it is time that we discuss "cues" for swing improvement sometime in the middle of next month.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > BHL
> > > > >
> > > > > Kinetic energy does in deed work upward. And, it works downward. Because it starts in the middle.
> > > >
> > > > I believe Teacherman is correct.
> > >
> > > Hi Teacherman and Coach C,
> > >
> > > When I read your comments, I decided to investigate further, which led me to a series of articles written by Max Ratafor (a.k.a. "Mad Max"). One of his articles touched upon the ongoing "debate about the never ending hip controversy." Serendipitously, the opening section explained why just turning the hip will not facilitate a strong rotation around a stationary axis.
> > >
> > > In the article, he argues that closing the feet, and attempting to open the feet with the hips, is a fallacious idea, since "it takes very little force to stop the hips from turning." Also, he argues that even if the foot is open 45 degrees, just using the hips will cause sluggish body rotation, since "no major muscles in the body are connected directed to the hips."
> > >
> > > Ratafor then mentions the solution subsequent to mentioning the problem. He seems to agree that opening front foot 45+ degrees to facilitate hip rotation is a plausible solution, but also adds that an overlooked facet of body gyration is "torsion." Specifically, the "torsion" to which he refers is the straightening of the front knee, and "the back knee driving down and around." He clarifies how to produce "torsion" by stating that if one uses his front knee in the correct manner, the back knee act in a reactory manner, and move the way that it is supposed to.
> > >
> > > I think this proves that rotation is a "ground-up mechanic."
> > >
> > > BHL
> >
> > I used to think that too. Tough to debate Max Ratafor (a.k.a. "Mad Max"), but in this case I do not agree. So we are on the same page....use two feet and measure your batspeed, then use one foot and measure batspeed.......any difference in readings? In the one foot swing do the hips work? As far as I can tell from your comments, I would not expect you to understand the concept of which I describe, but let me just say it is something fundamentally different (but much easier in my opinion). Use what works for you, but I would like the other to know........I do not agree with that concept.
> >
> > Coach C
>
> Hi Coach C,
>
> My bailiwick lends me toward detail which some consider "meaningless"; therefore, please explain the concept of kinetic energy working upward and downward. I will read your text, and ask questions. I think that after a brief review, I should be able to understand your point of view. Of course, whether or not I agree with it is an entirely different subject altogher.
>
> Highest regards,
> BHL
>
> P.S. I am getting a Ph. D., with a career focused on independent literary research.


For the record....I am not scientist and would have very little luck in describing the forces that are working in my swing or any other swing, however with that said, I do hold in high regard all of those that try to explain those forces.....I have found it very interesting to say the least. I also realized a long time ago that my search for the "Holy Grail" is just that.....my search. What I share with you or others is my opinion only and should not be deemed a threat to others. I guess I've been there, done that so many times that I no longer believe there is only one way to hit. I survived in high school, college with only a punch and judy swing. It wasn't until Golf entired into my life that I realized something was missing. I could hit a golf ball 300 yds plus (max 380yds one time), but hit a baseball only about 320 feet. I wasn't comfortable with that.

My own discoveries came with what I would call "lower body sway", it's something that the average hitting instructor has no concept of, but for me it seemed like a huge power leak. It also seem to manifest itself in a slight V-shaping of the swing, as well as a fair amount of casting of the arms. For years I listened to folks talk about lower body rotation, turn the hips, feel the legs, etc. To me lower body rotation or hip action implied turn with the legs (from the ground up), however it took me years to understand that by trying to turn the hips with the legs I was not solving the problem, but in fact aggravating the problem. Enough said on the history,

For me the swing changed when I focused on the weight distrubution. It was clear to me through video anaylysis that there were many hitters that never went back at all, but rather started at 50/50, then there was a stride to balance (another 50/50). In many of the hitters I saw, I determined that many of the hitters' front feet were not always toe first, but rather toe/heel at the same time. Additionally, these same hitters seem to have front knees that were responding to the swing rather than initiating the swing. My question was how to do that. For me it starts in the lower back/pelvic region. When I concentrated on this area to move the legs for me I undertood lower body movement, and additionally found that my upper body was in a much better position to apply effortless power. My secret today is to make a one quarter forward turn with the hips, instead of a percieved 1/2 turn or for heavans sake a 360 degree turn. A forward turn of the pelvic region (not the legs) has given me considerably more power than what I was getting, because the upper half was staying connected. I've taught this to all of my players and we just crush the ball. Today, I believe hitting is much simplier than we make it out to be. THT/BHT/etc are all wonderful observations, but in my mind won't cure a lower body that works in correctly. Get the lower half right and the upper half will have a correct mind of it's own.

You've given the board many strong opinions, of which, I have enjoyed reading. However, above all else, you've been respectful of others even when they don't seem to have enough respect for themselves. For that I will always be interested in your opinions......regardless of who's right.

C