Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Thu Apr 8 16:07:21 2010

>>> Hi Jack

A couple things from these statements above. Linear coaches very rarely say anything about the hips because it all is about the hands so usually a linear coach will say that the 'hands lead the hips'. The hip rotation is leading the shoulder rotation in the best swings so that it makes it easier for the shoulders to rotate.

That brings me to the next point. Without hip rotation the shoulders have resistance to rotate because they are also trying to turn the hips. Smaller muslces of the shoulder and upper body must slow down in order to help 'pull' the hips and larger muscles of the trunk and legs along in the rotation.

Hips rotating ahead of shoulder rotation allow the shoulders to rotate faster. This goes back to the x factor stretch that is present in all high level swings.

Two questions to you.

At what time in the swing do your hands move in relationship to the back shoulder?

What is the relationship between shoulder rotation and batspeed?

Dave <<<

Hi Dave

I am sorry for the delay in my reply to your post. I have been battling the flu but will try to catch up with my e-mails and posts.

In order for me to better answer your questions, I need to clarify a couple of the statements you made while posing those questions. You state, "The hip rotation is leading the shoulder rotation in the best swings so that it makes it easier for the shoulders to rotate." -- I would not only agree but also add that a powerful hip rotation aids in generating a more powerful shoulder rotation. So on that point we seem to agree.

However, you then state, "Smaller muslces of the shoulder and upper body must slow down in order to help 'pull' the hips and larger muscles of the trunk and legs along in the rotation." -- Here, you seem to be saying that it is the slowing down of shoulder rotation that rotates the hips.

Since we both agree that 'hip rotation leads shoulder rotation', why do you then say that it is the 'slowing down of shoulder rotation' that pulls the hips around? Dave, to me, hips leading or hips being pulled are opposing concepts. Please clarify.

Jack Mankin