Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Sep 13 22:06:48 2008

>>> Jack-

Thanks for the reply.

I may be confused on your position. I know that Epstein emphasizes getting the front
shoulder down and in.

I had though you had described this as well, but am in error. Sorry.

I do know you describe the shoulder shrug and unshrug actions later in the swing.

I think the tilt of the scaps/shoulders is a universal requirement of the MLB/rotational
swing.

It is required to load the shoulder down and in and to then allow the untilt to power the
"THT at launch" in my opinion.

Epstein has the best description of shoulder tilt and how this relates to adjusting the axis
up/more upright for high heater and down/staying more leaned back for low/dropping
offspeed.

When the back shoulder goes down, the front shoulder goes up at the same time.
The scaps can be positioned before this depending on up/down location as it is being
recognoized.

Keeping both scaps well elevated wth rear higher than front forces the weight forward and
gets the axis upright and matches the high heater well but still with a sight degree of
upswing.

Dropping the rear scap as/before you untilt stops the weight and axis going forward and
launches a loopier swing that matches the low/ofspeed/dropping ball more.

In any case the pattern and sequence are always the same:

PLT -primarily arm action with slight forearm

THT at Launch- forearm twist/swivel and shoulder tilt

BHT results from good scap/shoulder connection to the turning trso as handle torque fires
the bathead out demanding the segmented (non-spinning) transfer of the body
momentum when the torso uncoils.


TURNING the shoulders will not adequately support the dominant torquing (dominant in
controlling synch/trajectory, not dominant in terms of energy which still resides in the
pendulum/"CHP" action) which is the case for the of the handle necessary for THT at
launch. <<<

Hi Tom

I have high respect for your insight and knowledge of swing mechanics. Whenever we have a difference of opinion, which in most cases is seldom, I reevaluate my position very carefully. I have come to the conclusion that we are either describing the same thing with different words and terms or have different views regarding how energy is transferred in the swing.

I doubt that further discussions on this matter would change either of our minds. It will probably require a face to face meeting with demonstrations to settle the issue. I will re-post the over-head clip of Pete Rose and everyone can draw their own conclusion whether his shoulders are tilting as you describe or rotating about a tilted axis to transfer the body’s rotational energy.

Rose and the CHP

Jack Mankin