Posted by: JLB (oz2009@verizon.net) on Mon Jun 2 12:29:42 2008

> However, even if the batter perfects his lower-body mechanics to generate great rotational energy, the amount of angular velocity his bat achieves from that rotation is governed by the efficiency of his upper-body transfer mechanics. – “Of what use is a 1000 hp engine … if the transmission slips?
>
I think one way to keep the link intact and prevent a "transmission slip" is for the batters shoulders/arms/hands to continue their counter-rotation as the hips move slightly forward prior to rotation. Slippage occurs when the hands are moving forward at the same time the hips are moving forward. The slight forward movement of the hip prior to its actual rotation is a component of the way the hip muscles/flexors funtion. I can move my hips laterly using my hip flexors, but find there are other muscles involved when I try to rotate my hips. I also think there is some momentum gained by having the hips move forward before they accelerate into rotation. But once the hip accelerates into rotation, the upper body then wants to rotate around the axis the hips are rotating around so I assume the torque from the body has expired once the shoulder begins rotation. I have only a laymans understanding of physics, but it seems to me there is both an accleration phase to hip rotation and a deceleration phase during the swing because obviously the hip can rotate only so far.

Does then the application of torque to the bat handle supply additional energy once the torque from the body (hips moving forward while upper body counter-rotates)is transferred/expired?

JLB