Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Apr 9 15:29:07 2010

>>> Hi Jack
Hope you feel better. If you read the sentence before the statement you need clarification for it says 'Without hip rotation the shoulders have resistance to rotate because they are also trying to turn the hips.' So the statement you want clarification is referring to this meaning that the '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.' because the hips are not going first.

So to clarify the two questions

At what time in the swing do the hands seperate away from shoulder rotation?

What is the relationship of batspeed to shoulder rotation and/or hip rotation?

I am adding a third question

If the hips are required to help rotate the shoulders and the shoulders setup more effiecent use of THT and BHT (hopefully you can clarify if this is not the case) then which movement is the most important part of the swing to maximize bathead speed? <<<

Hi Dave

Thank you for the clarification. I was trying to associate your statement to higher level mechanics where hip rotation does lead to drive shoulder rotation. I should have realized you were referring to lower level mechanics when you stated, "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.' because the hips are not going first."

Question #1 -- You ask, "At what time in the swing do the hands seperate away from shoulder rotation?" --- After contact - During the follow through phase of the swing.

Question #2 -- You ask, "What is the relationship of batspeed to shoulder rotation and/or hip rotation?" --- Staying connected to shoulder rotation is what transfers the energy from the body's larger muscle groups into bat speed.

Question #3 -- You ask, "If the hips are required to help rotate the shoulders and the shoulders setup more effiecent use of THT and BHT (hopefully you can clarify if this is not the case) then which movement is the most important part of the swing to maximize bathead speed?" --- A ballistic motion, once initiated, produces trajectories that can be changed only at its' margins. -- The more I study the swing, the more I grasp the importance of that bio-mechanical principle. -- If the swing is not initiated correctly (PLT to THT), the balance of the swing is an exercise in compensation.

Jack Mankin