Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Sep 30 01:30:50 2005

>>> IMO, the only reason the coefficient of friction of the hitting surface would make a difference is because you are thinking the way to generate rotation is to push with the rear leg and block with the front leg. I think this is a "way" to generate rotation, but certainly not the optimal way. One might even think that this is the way MLB players generate roation by watching their clips. Front leg does "appear" to firm up, etc. But what is actaully happening is a "result" of the body fully unloading and completing rotation. Optimal rotation should start in with the body's core muscles(pelvic, abdominal, upper thighs) and generate down through the feet and out through the shouldersarms. Body weight has little if anything to do with producing force in the rotational swing. It's all about loading/unloading those core muscles.<<<

Hi Jeff

For the most part I agree with your statement. I also have not found that using the back-leg to drive rotation around a blocked lead-leg to be the optimum way. I agree with you that the “body's core muscles(pelvic, abdominal, upper thighs)” drive rotation – with and exception.

With the mechanics I teach my students, the firming up of their lead-leg is not totally the “result” of the body fully unloading and completing rotation. They are taught to have ample flex in the lead-knee and use the extension of the lead-leg to drive the lead-hip rearward in conjunction with the body's core muscles. They should consciously feel the hip being driven rearward from the extension of the leg – not just going along for the ride. – I have them concentrate on using the extension of the leg to aid in getting the lead-shoulder rotating rearward (105 degree position) at contact.

I would say the body's core muscles are more exclusively used in the golf swing where the lead-leg remains fairly straight and firm throughout the swing.

Jack Mankin