Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 15 17:58:40 2000

>>>The legs apply torque to the hips, front leg pushing front hip back, back leg pushing back hip around. This opening of the hips precedes the shoulder turn. The amount of hip turn before shoulder turn is the torque angle and is a key contributor to swing power.

The waist is the conduit or connector of upper and lower body. It does not, itself, apply torque but transfers lower body torque to the upper body. <<<

Hi Major Dan

I am in full agreement with your assessment of what generates hip rotation. But I need to have a better understanding of your next statement --“ This opening of the hips precedes the shoulder turn. The amount of hip turn before shoulder turn is the torque angle and is a key contributor to swing power.” -- Does this mean that a greater “torque angle” is desirable? I know there has been discussion that seems to break rotation into two parts - lower body & torso. I have never been able to understand some of their thinking?

I have stated that the rotation of the hips and shoulders should be thought of as happening “in unison.” By that, I mean the muscle contractions that turn the torso and shoulders are occurring “in unison” with the leg muscle contractions that drive hip rotation. Naturally hip rotation will lead shoulder rotation by a few degrees due the much greater inertia posed from greater mass of the upper body and that of accelerating the bat.

It is my opinion that the more the hips open before the torso muscle contraction begins, the less the hips can contribute to shoulder rotation. In other words, the hips would merely serve as a platform for the torso to operate from and less as a driving force of shoulder rotation. -- This is why I am against the 2 (or 3) stage approach I have seen advertised on TV. 1= stride, 2= squash the bug (almost fully opening the hip while keeping the shoulders closed), 3=swing.

Some claim, and they may have a point, that the hips need to open some to take out slack. But can this be effective without some muscle contraction in the torso? If I leave my muscles relaxed, I can keep my shoulders closed and rotate the hips 50 or 60 degrees and feel little tension developed.

Jack Mankin