Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sun Oct 17 09:59:40 2004

Jack-

My layperson's model/understanding is that the double pendulum and flail are specialized models of whipping.

I do believe that you can increase the power soucrce by creating linear momentum with the forward motion of the body and use the body's muscle and elastic tissue as well as body positioning (rotate into toe touch then block forward motion at foot plant)) to transform this into to additional coiling of the torso which can then uncoil with additional rotational momentum that good "transfer mechanics" can transform into batspeed.

Furhtermore, developing linear and coiling motion at the same time, then blending them to improve torso coil may not be just a nice added wrinkle, it may actually be necessary for the body to be able to coil and uncoil efficiently. The main support I have found for this is Bobby Jones analysis of the golf swing where he found that the body had to move forward on a line before the hips began turning open to coil the body to avoid "spinning" and getting effective rotation to transfer/transform into clubspeed. Empiricaly, me found this action and sequence essential.

When you look at the purely passive double pendulum whipping type action, it seems that the "hinge angle" wants to greatly narrow before rapid angular acceleration of the final pendulum, but this does not seems desirable for batting with its requirement for dealing with limited reaction times. Do you find that torque needs to be applied to prevent passive hinge angle narrowing among othher things ?