Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Wed Aug 18 11:13:09 2004

Lots of discussion has been going on about tht lately and many seem to be confused.My question to those with film is does top hand begin to pull bat back before slightest dip in the rear elbow.Do you feel hitters try consciously or sub-consciously to pull bat back with op hand while keeping the elbow up level to the ground.

RQL-

I think in some,depending on where the back arm is positioned in the stance/preswing and where it goes as the hips cock,that the bat can start to sweep back/down around (very pre-launch tht)mainly from the pinching of the back scap as it rotates down and around sklightly as it continues to pinch toward the spine.

This is then followed by the back elbow dropping which is the main driver of "pre-launch THT".I find that kinesiologically speaking,the prime driver here is "external rotation" of the humerus in the shoulder socket.The way the shoulder joint sums up range of motion,the back arm stays extended in the socket (roughly keeps elbow pointing back) but must adduct (lower elbow) at same time the arm is externally rotating (a loose analogy is the rapid acceleration phase in the overhand throw where the whipping acceleration of the arm is lead by internal rotation,but also involves extension secondarily).

As an example,cock your hands maximally/pinch back scap maximally as in hitting so you back elbow is all the way up and pointing all the way back.

Now try to ONLY externally rotate/twist the humerus in the shoulder scoket.You will fing the elbow must drop some (arm adduction) at the same time due to limitations of range of motion.