Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Dec 21 04:18:51 1999

Hi BHL

I really am sorry about the delay in my reply. You posted good straightforward questions that deserve an answer. My time has been very limited the past few days.

>>>QUESTION ONE: Do you agree the back knee should rotate around and down and turn in at the same time (as explained by Hudgens and Mad Max on the Nyman site). In simplest terms, should not the back leg trn down and in to maximize rotation?<<<

>>>QUESTION TWO: Do you prefer people pivot on the ball of their foot, or come up on their toe with their heel facing the sky? <<<

I think the flexed back knee should rotate around but see little reason for it to lower (down) or come up on the toe if the batter rotates around the proper axis. --- There are two very different theories about the mechanics of hip rotation. One theory would have the front leg become straight or ridged during or shortly after the stride. The back leg then pushes the back hip against and around the posted front leg. This makes the front leg the center of rotation of the hips. This means the center of the body (the spine) must pivot forward (back-to-center) during the swing.

In the rotational swing model, both legs are used to rotate the hips around a stationary axis (the spine). As the front foot is planted the lead knee is well flexed and pointed at the plate. The lead knee then turns and extends to drive the front hip back around toward the catcher at the same rate the back leg is pushing the back hip around toward the pitcher. The two legs pushing in opposing directions generates a tremendous amount of torque causing the hips to rotate around a stationary axis (the spine).

With the “back-to-center” model, the center of rotation IS NOT the center of the body. The back hip must be pushed further forward. The back leg then must extend more and the foot may have to come upon the toe. Pushing the bottom of the axis out then lowers the back knee.

There is another force that can cause the batter’s back foot to come upon the toe. During the follow-through, the pull from the momentum of the bat (as it sweeps past the pitcher) can make the weight on the back foot very light.

Jack Mankin