Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Aug 1 12:23:46 2008

>>> I agree that rotation is not around the front hip, but I am not in agreement that rotation is around the spine.

In reading your post I believe you stated that the forward push is not turned into rotational energy.

Can there not be forward momentum with out weight shift until "go"? Can't the weight shift put the front foot down, so your weight will remain over your rear hip? So the axis of rotation is not really an axis but a joint the rear hip to be more specific.

I ask because IMO the body produces forward momentum without the weight shifting until you push off of the back leg. The back leg and hands sync together, similar to throwing. The weight shift is blocked by the front leg.

I may be rambling a bit, again hard to explain in written words.

Graylon <<<

Hi Graylon & All

I had hoped to have the video clips illustrating the mechanics of applying THT ready by this time. However, this has been a busy week and I will instead start this month’s discussion by addressing the question above posted by Graylon last month (<a href="http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/224211.html">Re: Jack and the Science of Hitting</a --
). -- I should have the THT clips up next week.

I suspect that one of the main reasons coaches have a problem accepting the fact that many of the best hitters rotate about the center of their body (the spine) is because that would constitute “spinning.” “Spinning,” as outline in Jim Lefebvre’s book, “The Making of a Hitter,” has been considered a serious mechanical flaw in generating bat speed by many (if not most) batting coaches.

However, the concept that rotating about the center of the body (like a “revolving door”) transferees less energy to the bat than rotation about the front hip (like a swinging gate), was not supported in my discussion with Physics Professors. Neither is it supported by my video analysis of the games best hitters. -- I will place below another post I wrote on this topic along with supporting video clips.

<a href="http://www.batspeed.com/messageboard/119313.html">Momentun & Axis of Rotation</a –


Jack Mankin