Posted by: Bobby Tewksbary (bobby@abathletics.com) on Tue Feb 16 09:37:01 2010

Thank you for the link to the archives. I will continue to read through them.

You stated:
"It is possible there could have been some rearward bat movement prior to shoulder
rotation from PLT. However, I fail to see how the "firing of the back-hip" had any impact
on the bat's rearward movement if it did not cause the shoulders to rotate. And, as you
acknowledged, the shoulders had not started rotating."

In summary, the barrel has definitely (not possibly) accelerated rearward, the shoulders
have not rotated, and the rear hip has fired. So there is hand torque and rear hip drive.
The bat is on plane, on the pendulum. (And the foot hasn't even hit the ground yet
meaning his weight is back, so with Sosa this action seems to be taking care of the front
foot as well with him - different argument, but something to note.) I am not arguing that
the shoulders remain static. I am arguing that if you pull with the shoulders, you pull
(drag) the fulcrum/pivot point of the pendulum forward, delaying the whip effect. If you
do not pull, the pendulum is more efficient because the fulcrum/pivot point has not
moved in relation to the body, but the rear hip has created additional speed or "whip" to
the pendulum (to the barrel) without hurting the efficiency of the pendulum.


When Sosa is "just starting to turn his shoulders" he has already been driving his rear hip
for multiple frames - creating separation, stretch - while the shoulders are not rotating.
(The shoulders appear to be resisting rotation.) The barrel is going rearward due to "hand
torque" and the rear hip is driving forward, simultaneously. I don't see the difference
between PLT and THT. It is all one movement, driven by the rear hip. In other words, I see
the hand torque creating a pivot point for the pendulum as the rear hip drives. Then I see
the hands staying inside the ball (staying tight). The grids and the lines don't explain the
feel of staying inside the ball.

As you said, this ball was hit 506 feet. It is easy to see lead shoulder pull if that is what
you are looking for. It is also easy to see hip drive causing shoulder rotation if that is what
you are looking for. What is the feel? He pulled this ball, so is there less lead shoulder
pull to hit an opposite field home run (and therefor less power from the shoulder and in
the swing?) It can feel good to pull the lead shoulder on an inside pitch, get that whip out
in front. But the same swing on an outside pitch (hit to the opposites field) cuts/slices the
ball, or the hitter forces the bat angle to push the other way. (Or the bat breaks.)


My opinion is the rear hip is driving and the shoulders are not providing power to the
swing to the point of contact in a high level swing. The rear hip is causing shoulder
rotation, the "hand torque" is working to put the bat on plane and on the pendulum.
That's it. Anything more adds an effort feel to the swing. When the timing is correct with
the rear hip drive and hand torque, the swing feels "effortless" or "easy" compared to a
swing that involves lead shoulder pull. This is the swing that thousands of players around
the country (millions around the world?) feel but cannot explain or recreate in a training
environment.

We can now agree to disagree if that is the case.