Posted by: Jim (jwelborn@lexcominc.net) on Fri Nov 4 22:16:18 2005

> Hi Jim
>
> Welcome to the site. You made a number of points in post that could lead to interesting discussions. However, I like to focus on one main issue at a time. I chose to address your statement below because I have a somewhat different view than you and other coaches have presented.
>
> You stated; “Another thing I have noticed is that in every clip, during the positive move prior to rotation, the hips ALWAYS move forward farther than the head. This move is, of course, what provides the backward tilt to the rotation axis. This move is not necessarily a function of the stride. In two of my clips, Jim Edmonds and Mike Sweeney both have no stride at all. Yet both had positive linear hip movement measuring almost a foot.”
>
> Jim, I fully agree that due to backward tilt of the axis, the hips are always ahead of the rest of the torso during the stride. But in most cases, I have not found that “the hips ALWAYS move forward farther than the head.” I find that once the axis is set, the hips move forward at about the same rate as the head. In those cases where the hips did move (or cock) more forward was usually due to a posture adjustment (greater axis tilt) for lower pitches.
>
> As an example of the head and hips moving at about the same rate, let us take a look at a Big Mac clip http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/mac03.mpeg . Once we have discussed this clip, feel free to present clips for discussion with more hip slide.
>
> Note: Jim, In order to keep this thread focused, I am starting our discussion as a new thread (Hip Slide).
>
> Jack Mankin



Jack,

I find it impossible to quantify positive hip movement in clip mac03 (http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/mac03.mpeg). This clip is a back view shot at an angle that makes positive hip movement relative to head movement difficult to judge. The clip only shows a portion of the swing excluding any negative movement. When I measure positive hip movement (hip slide), I begin measurement at the limit of all negative hip movement and end it at a point where all positive linear movement has been replaced by rotation. In this clip, the camera also appears to be either panning or zooming out throughout the swing. This further makes it impossible to measure linear hip movement.

I would direct your attention to the other McGuire clip, mac01.mpeg. This front quarter view also is extremely short in duration, showing only a portion of the swing. However, in this swing there IS greater forward linear hip movement than there is head movement. This definitely gives the rotation axis its backward lean.

I wish I could load this clip into my Rightview Pro Capture Viewer and physically measure the head and hip movement as I have done with 25 pro baseball and 6 Olympic softball players . Unfortunately, not enough of the swing is shown to make this possible. Of the 31 clips I have analyzed, every one showed more hip than head movement.

I do not agree with your statement that “once the axis is set, the hips move forward at about the same rate as the head.” Once the axis is set, rotation has begun and there is no longer any forward movement. My point is that the action of moving the hips forward further than the head allows the axis to become properly set. Any batter who begins with a balanced stance must make this move to get the axis into the correct alignment.

I would also add that when coaching our young players who have problems with establishing a correct axis of rotation, we emphasize creating this type of movement prior to and leading into rotation. It DOES help improve their power.

Jim