Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Sep 25 22:43:25 2001

>>> [Jack's quote] --- Although all the muscles are contracting in unison, the hips will still open ahead of the shoulders due to the increased load of accelerating the upper-body mass and overcoming the inertia offered by the bat - not sequential timing.
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We've discussed this before. THis last paragraph of yours clarifies for me how you think about this issue. I don't really have an opinion on whether the torso muscles are fired consciously either sequentially or in unison. I think we both agree on what the finished product should look like.

My only question is if you have actually had the muscles monitored to see if they are used sequentially or in unison, or if this is just your opinion of what is happening.
As I said, I have no idea myself. >>>

Hi Major Dan

I have found that we seldom disagree on any of the major batting principles. Our discussions have primarily centered on finding clarity rather than actual disagreements.

My statement regarding "sequentially or in unison" is based on deductions made from observations and applying scientific principles - not test data.

I observed that the momentum of my hips was not transferred upward without contracting my torso muscles. For example, two bowling balls are placed one on top of the other. The bottom ball is spun. If we stop the bottom ball - is any momentum, other than that caused by friction, transferred upward to the top ball? --- I found that if I left my midsection relaxed, my legs could open my hips approximately 70+ degrees with very little tendency for the shoulders to rotate. You could hold the shoulders back with one finger.

I concluded: (1) If the legs drive hip rotation while leaving the shoulders closed, only torso contraction will be left to drive shoulder rotation. (2) For the legs and hips to contribute to shoulder to rotation, the torso muscles must also contract in-unison.

Jack Mankin