Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Thu Jul 19 13:35:56 2001

Major,
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> Your right in the fact that I am tailoring this to the age group. I have them take their hands shoulders and hips around together to keep it simple and hope that the amount of repititions help them get a good feel for a good swing. I am not an expert here but this seems to work good especially if you consider most 7 and 8 yrs old dont get any hitting instruction at all. Its a good start that they can understand but I do want to learn more about exactly the best way to start the hips and shoulders.
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> I also want to note that for this age group most kids have a long slow swing which makes up for alot of their problems and just by giving them a short quick swing with many repitions to give them very good eye hand coordination will greatly improve their hitting. I do understand as they get older that more refinement is needed.
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> Lastly Major, What is the best sequence for the hands, shoulders, hips to come around on the ball. I have heard that the hips should open up slightly first before the hands and shoulders to allow the latter to more easly come around on the ball. But it was also said that for simpicity sake just tell young kids to have them all come around at the same time.
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> Another thing is if you just sling your hands at the ball then you are getting a linear path to the ball. This seems to be very awkward if you do not bring your shoulders around at the same time to get some rotation movement of the body. I guess I have always been looking for a certain type of swing but just havent took note of the importantnce of the rotational part when the shoulders come around as you start your hands toward the ball. I am sure if a kid was just throwing his hands at the ball that it would look very awkward and I would have corrected it. I have always pointed out that the turning of the shoulders and hips was just has important as taking your hands to the ball.
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> So what Jack is saying I think is to hold the hands back a little and let the body come around and the body is what brings the hands to the ball or strike zone??
>

In a very simple sense, it is hip turn, shoulder turn, hand release.
Obviously, the sequence happens quickly.
Hand release is tricky - the top hand elbow comes down to the side at the beginning of the swing (very loose terms here) but the extension of the back arm at the elbow is what often goes out of sequence (too early).
Hips start turn - lead arm must have slack taken out of it at this point (not elbow locked, just stretched so the lead shoulder will pull it instantly).
Shoulders link into hip turn bringing the lead arm into the swing plane, back elbow at the side, hands still 'in' - back elbow not releasing/straightening).
Top hand releases - elbow unbends while still against the ribs to release hands and bat barrel into ball. THis happens after shoulders have turned lead arm and bat into the ball. It is not an active hands/arms action.

Biggest error - sequence of arms ahead of shoulders and hips not going or following along.
With your sequence, biggest danger is early release of back elbow - bat barrel/ arms extend early in shoulder turn or at start of hip turn. This results in a sweep or cast. Tough part is teaching 'keep the hands in' which is what 'staying inside the ball' means.
Steve Garvey described it as hitting with stubby little arms - just the opposite of the 'extension' that analysts think is so great but amateurs turn into sweeps and casts.
The danger of your method is locking in the unit turn of shoulders and hips. This often leads to the hands flying out as soon as the turn starts. That's why I sequence it as "hips, shoulders, elbows" in rapid succession.
If you haven't seen Jack's tape, it is about time - this will make a lot more sense.
Sorry to be so technical. THere are ways to adjust simple instructions to young kids to get these effects.