Posted by: rql () on Fri Dec 10 20:32:29 2004

>>> jack, i know you believe, as i do in rotation around a stationary axis...furthermorei think you believe, as i do that the front arm should be fairly straight, not bent during the stride (some critics would call this "barring" the front arm)....
> >
> > i have observed that keeping the chin tucked into the front shoulder during the stride will go a long way on (1) keeping the front arm fairly straight and (2) facilitating a "one-piece" swing....
> > GRC,if you look at it a different way in the stance they often do not have the chin on the shoulder so what gets it there is the proper loading technique,whatever you care to call it,this brings the shoulder tothe chin then as the shoulders get on plane with the ball that lead shoulder works up and stays under[attached] to chin as you say.I think what you see is an effect caused by proper loading but yes you are seeing it.
> > have you ever observed a relationship between keeping the chin tucked into the front shoulder and your ideal batting mechanics?....thanks... <<<
> >
> > Hi Grc
> >
> > I tell my students they should be able to touch their chin to the front shoulder in the launch position. This means the lead-shoulder has been properly shrugged inward.
> >
> > As for as the keeping the lead-arm fairly straight, I agree with you that most of the better hitters do. However, I have no problem with a batter that swings with a bent lead-arm (like Bonds) as long as the arm maintains about the same angle (fixed) through contact (except for outside pitches).
> >
> > If I correctly read Tom’s response to you regarding the lead-arm, he advocates keeping the arm in a fixed position until a couple frames before contact. I maintain that extending the arm straighter just before contact produces a more linear hand-path and less bat speed than keeping the arm in the fixed position (like Bonds).
> >
> > Jack Mankin
> >
> >
> > "they should be able to touch their chin to the front shoulder in the launch position. This means the lead-shoulder has been properly shrugged inward.".....i think this is exactly correct....i see the chin/shoulder thing as an immense help in keeping the front arm fairly straight and in assisting the chp.....