Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Dec 3 11:54:42 2010

>>> Hi Jack,

I would like to know your thoughts on the alignment of the hips and back leg at launch (and prelaunch). Should the hips be square against a firm leg that's turned in ? Or is ok to rotate the hips back like a backswing in golf ?

I have only just realised that I have my hips rotated up and back around at launch. This in turn causes my shoulders to be rotated further back around. While I can generate good batspeed, I am not quick to the ball and suffer the consequences of a long swing.

Thanks for your time. <<<

Hi Dan

The short answer to you question is "no." In the baseball swing, your hips should not rotate back as far as in the golf swing. In the golf swing, the club is wrapped much farther than in baseball. Some golfers wrap (or tilt) the shaft behind their head to a point where the club-head is only a couple feet from the ground. This requires a much greater inward turn of the lead shoulder and back-hip.

In order to get the proper stretch in the baseball swing, the hips and back shoulder remain fairly square with the plate while the inward turn of the lead-shoulder points toward the first-baseman. The video below of "4 Good Hitters" addresses the role of the lead-arm but you can study their launch form and bat position at initiation.

4 Good hitters - Lead Arm

Jack Mankin