Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Thu Oct 30 11:49:34 2008

Jack -

This is one way I think of hip cock/uncock in the context of the swing model always
having the same sequence of phases:

rhythmic preswing activity
cock hips (negative move)
cock hands (positive move)
windrubberband(prelaunch THT)
drop and tilt (tht at launch)
swing (bht/pendulum)

The cock aspect is important as a preparation for later weight "shift". Retaining some cock
in the hip enables the later "shift" of weight at the right time/adjusted to match the pitch
with a well timed and positioned bathead/swing trajectory (developing a well matched
"contact zone" as Williams described it).

The type of action I find crucial during the "shift" is a forward shift of the base of the
spine.

Prior to this shift, the body has started forward (positive move/carried by hip cock) and
then started (and continued) coiling by the front leg and hip opening as the hands stay
back (prelaunch THT phase/rubberbandwinding). The front hip needs to stay UP/LEVEL (via
pinch of front waist, one of the aspects of "hip cock" described by Jim Dixon). The weight
must remain primarily carried on the back leg to retain the ability to shift the spine at "GO"
(or "launch" or "drop and tilt"). Weight shifts fully to front foot at "GO" as the shift puts the
front foot/heel down.

The window of time during which a good adjustment to match the pitch can be prolonged
(wind rubberband longer/read pitch/change direction of THT) by a sitting action via flex at
the back knee while the coiling muscles are kept on stretch and coil continues.

Then, as a result of the "GO" decision, the base of spine (and center of gravity) and the
weight shifts as the shoulders TILT which "keeps the front shoulder in there", resisting
turning or opening with the hips as they fire (shoulders/spine primarily tilt, NOT turn).

This action arches the spine and controls a last quick/dynamic stretch/coil of the torso
which can then produce a well segmented "kinetic link"/"summation of
velocities"/"effective speed gains" as the torso uncoils followed by the sequential
unloading of the arms, then bathead.

A KEY to this efficient segmentation with speed gains summing for high batspeed and
quickness is the THT at launch which is accelerated at launch by forearm twist AND
shoulder TILT. The more you produce THT, the more you can create via "resistance" a
quick last twist/load of the torso which then uncoils more efficiently with better
segmentation/speed gains (better ultimate "batspeed").

In this sequence, the front leg (external rotation) then hip opens to start coiling before
launch (prelaunch THT phase), then at shift/"GO"/THT at launch, weight goes to thr front
foot, the front and back hips slide forward as the front leg turns out more and the hip
rotation quickly accelerates then decelerates with the back hip then thrusting UP as the
front leg straightens.

Hip "turn" is not very good way to describe the action of the hips because the hips are
moving supported by both legs and are shifting while turning. And the shift is primarily
controlled by how the upper body is developing THT, not by leg or lower body action.