Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Thu Jun 15 09:29:59 2006

Jack and jima-

I get/hear about a similar "lag" feel in my self/many players who tend to describe this part of the swing in "linear" words.
Lau Jr and Peavy (peavynet.com) for example would say that this is when the weight shifts and the lead arm pulls which precedes and enhances subsequent rotation.

I think this is what Jack recognizes as the same phase of the swing as "tht at launch". The "pull" that Lau feels primarily in the lead arm is more accurately the torquing of the handle by action of both arms as they connect to the firming up/tilting shoulder link ( a "tilting" shoulder resists opening with the hip turn so that coil is increased). This torquing action optimizes the rate of coil/loading of the body.

This phase needs to be preceded by "prelaunch tht" which involves torquing action of both arms more (but not entirely by any means) "independent" of shoulder action (shoulders NOT tilting yet).

Epstein would call these 2 phases "winding the rubber band" (coiling the torso) and "drop and tilt" (final "cusp-creating" coil or "xfactor-stretch" as Zig calls it).

Rather than a "linear" action, in other words, this is a last coiling load of the body increasing separation between hips and shoulders with a last quick stretch that reverses/unloads efficiently.

The "chp" and axis of rotation does not need to be "set" until the end of this phase which is typically a frame or 2 after front heel drops and between 3 and 4 frames prior to contact (30 frames per sec).