Posted by: Shawn () on Fri Dec 19 09:21:35 2008

> Shawn -
>
> I missed your post here.
>
> I think the terms linear and rotational are best interpreted in the context of Jack's mechanical model of the swing which breaks it down into 1-CHP/connected/flail/double/compound pendulum and 2-handle torque, which are blended.
>
> In the baseball power swing, the PARAMOUNT issue is timing which requires minimizing timing error by preventing deceleration before contact which in turn means that you do not disconnect from the CHP component prior to contact.
>
> Torque needs to be applied in a manner that enhances rather than interferes with CHP.
>
> Jack recognizes this as CHP and observing that the shoulders keep turning until contact
>
> (aside: shoulders/scaps "bypassed" in terms of being an active part of the turning mechanism, passively turned in my opinion via unloading of a coiled torso between tilting shoulders - which are boostoing handle torque - and then more level turning hips since active turning of shoulders "rushes"/interrupts/degrades coil)
>
> not pooping out before then reaccelerating.
>
> Shoulders that primarily tilt rather than turn enhance torque and loading and ability to blend CHP and torque synergistically.

Tom,

I'm not clear on what you mean by not decelerating before contact.

If you don't have deceleration before contact, you will have issues such a slowpitch hitter spinning around backwards into the follow through.

Are you talking about a left handed hitter facing a right pitcher and the ball moving into his power, in which case they might turn more through contact with a little less deceleration?

The same thing can happen when a right handed hitter hits a ball inside as well.

You should be able to hold the same position Alex does in many of swings, where he doesn't have to to turn on a inside pitch.

As CHP, torque, and shoulders turning all the way through contact, who does this, what hitter, what pitch. What might appear to be the shoulders turning through contact, is mostly follow through, and this is after the deceleration of the hips/torso/shoulder and lead arm. Which accelerates the the bat to it's peak velocity.

Mankin saying that the lead arm pulls backwards, or lead shoulder, near contact is a deceleration of the lead arm and shoulders. It isn't to turn through contact, unless the pitch was inside and then it might appear that there was less deceleration.

If you don't transfer the energy into the bat, the only thing a CHP or turning all the way through contact will do is spread out the bat speed throughout the motion. You will not achieve your best bat speed or highest velocity, because there isn't enough deceleration to funnel the energy completely into the bat.

Unless we are talking about a inside pitch where the dynamics are a little different.