Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Mon Oct 17 23:20:49 2005

grc-

This is my idiosyncratics reconciliation:

I think it is incumbent on the instructor to make as much sense out of swing mechanics
and how to teach them as possible. The approach I use is to try to figure out a
methodology that seems to account for as many different essentials as possible from a
number of sources. It is like a big jigsaw puzzle and the challenge is to try to fit the pieces
together.Of the various systems fairly easily available in print and on the net,my
preference is for encouraging a rotational power swing that is as short/quick as
possible.The best combo of information I have seen that covers this type swing is the
combo of Jack's model and Williams/Epstein.

The way I put things together is using the concept of a universal arm action sequence for
hitting. This idea was borrowed from Jeff Hodge who described such an approach to
teaching pitching/overhand throw.

I like Jack's model and arm action emphasis a lot and his model of a series of arcs and the
identification of a rotational and torque components of the swing. I like Epstein's lower
body and weight shift emphasis and his core principles of hips lead hands (body torque/
kinetic link),hands stay in (connection/CHP) and plane matching which is a very important
dewcription of a way to adjust late/on the fly for high/low.Zig Zigler's summary of his
skilltechnologies motionanalysis fits well with jack's model (series of arcs/progressive
speed gains-hips,lead shoulder,hands.bathead) and gives more definition to Mike's body
torque idea with emphasis on dynamic "xfactor stretch" and caution against too much
absolute separation (x facor).John Elliott has also posted useful info here,especially about
front leg and back shoulder.I like Williams emphasis on the early hip cok and handcok
actions.Epstein is excellent for matching the mental side with the mechanical.
Weathervaning can be an important cue IF you understand it. If not.I would agree with
teacherman not to use it. The same would go for any cue,of course.Jack and Mike Epstein
teach somewhat similar progressions. Jack starts with chp/rotation then adds bht
torque,then tht torque. heavy bag is good for checking posture and refining timing (max
batspeed at contact).

Mike starts with forcing connection by bat on deltoid and teaching good rotation by curing
lunging,then curing "flying open" (transmission slipping). Both encourage belly-up hook
handpath swings.Jacks details are very important in explaining for me how handpath
adjustment is made for in vs out.

Mike's "tilt"/plane match/weathervane info is related to adjusting axis up down to level out
the swing shape more or less (more level/shallower "U" shaped swing for high ball/better
way to get high heat than hoping to catch up to it with more uppercutting/deeper "V"
swing shape. This fits with Mike's highest level swing strategy which is look in OR
out,adjust up/down on fly. Facing lower caliber pitching, you can get away with just
looking fast or slow and adjusting swing radius in/out as jack describes.

The in/out and high/low adjustments and how they interact can be understood in terms of
relation to universal arm action in the swing phases i have often mentioned here,Bonds is
a good model:

1- inward turn,hands come in toward center,bat tips vertically.negative move

2-hip cok,back arm internally rotates (synchronized with lead leg internal rotation) bat
turns somewhat toward pitcher

3-hand cok,back arm lift,back scap pinch,bat coks toward pitcher,then begins drop
toward horizontal/developing swing plane as hand cok continues.positive move starts.

4-wind rubber band/rotate into toe touch/pre-launch tht-this is where jack's in/out
handpath radius/tht becomes essential-bat continues uncoking/accelerating back toward
catcher

I look at it more like the top hand leads a generic loading motion/sequence which is
interrupted by the bottom hand with the right timing as location is recognized (of course it
is scap/arm action that is determining what the hands are doing).

basic handpath radius is set by how long this handcok/rotation into toe touch proceeds
before the lead arm firmsup/sets the radius preparing for (later) connection. if this
interruption by the lead arm is early,the direction of pull of "tht" is more behind batter
with short swing radius/low load/ressitance to rotation.

If the load goes on longer (let ball get deep in timing sense) then lead arm will stretch
more and direction of tht will be more toward catcher with longer swing radius/higher
load/resistance and more room for bathead to accelerate before firing out of arc of (longer
radius) handpath.

5-drop and tilt- keep sitting to hit as shoulders tilt. well described by Epstein.lead arm
finishes internal rotation/elevating elbow into swing plane/connecting with firm front
scap.for low ball,back leg hinges more,there is more bend in waist,lead arm is down on
chest,but main controller of trajectory is back shoulder/top hand. The dropping of the
back shoulder creates shoulder turning in a steeper plane/shoulders and hips turn in
different planes which creates more separation/higher load and some "extension" nearing
contact ("L" comes out of back arm,shoulders keep turning/staying connected until
contact). Lead forearm can extend some,swing plane is more vertical and max batspeed is
as bathead catches up to hands.Deeper "V" type swing shape/more vertical swing plane.

Keeping hands up by keeping top hand up staying on top/leveling out the swing/raising
your sites keeps the back shoulder up/shoulders turn in more level plane/more in same
plane as hips.low load/less separation torso turns/hands hook/no exctension/hands lead
bathed more/weight goes forward and up more/lead arm up off chest/less bend at waist/
less bend in knees. shallower "U" shape/more horizontal swing plane.

Hook is enabled primarily by "shrugged front scap" at connection "unshrugging" nearing
contact as Jack describes it,I believe. Unshrug primarily = horizontal adduction of scap
(pinch scap toward spine), Shrug primarily = horizontal abduction of scap.(scap sliding
away from spine).

This late "tilt" adjustment of the shoulder link goes along with a short belly-up swing.

6-swing-hands stay in/chp/bht with (inside) or without (out) much hook/stay connected
with max batspeed at contact.

The Epstein progression is 1-cure lunging,2-rotate well/coil/uncoil efficiently/stop flying
open (like Jack's stopping transmission slipping-inefficient speed gains in final arc as
measured by Zig's system for example).

Jack's info fits nicely to teach arm action when you take bat off deltoid to stay connected
and learn how to set swing radius for out vs in (Epstein pinball analogy not very accurate
except for perhaps 2 strike defensive/contact situation).

To learn "tilt"/plane matching,it is best to start with tilt back/low ball because the axis up/
shallow "U" swing will tend to reactivate the lunge habit if is not long gone.

Or ,jack's approach works well with the addition of the tilt action after tht has been figured
out.

I think of the swing as having a push pull feeling where one hand is dominant then the
other with the bottom hand leading the inward turn,then the top hand leading the load
with hip and handcok,then the bottom hand taking over with the rotation into toe touch/
rubber band winding while the main focus of the top hand then becomes being fixed to
back shoulder location.Then front shoulder/bottom hand pull/maintaining box with
launch.

Weathervaning of the lead arm (lead arm works up more for low location and level more
for high on approach to contact) is the result of tilting the axis up and leveling out the
swing for high heat as opposed to tlting the axis back for low/slow balls.

How do you see it grc ?