Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: Jack Mankin (Mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Feb 16 22:46:10 2000

>>> i have a slow hip turn and if anyone has any drills to increase that would be helpful <<<

Hi Batter

Slow hips turn or not rotating at the correct time is a problem with many hitters. It is caused by not initiating the swing correctly. The more the batter uses the arms to accelerate the hands the greater the problem. Using the arms to initiate the swing leaves the rotation of the body out of the power generation. The hips and shoulders just come along for the ride but add little to the swing so there is no sequential order for them to open.

A frame-by-frame breakdown of a great hitter’s swing clearly shows that the hips (and shoulders) lead the hands. Their arms are more relaxed and allow the rotation of the shoulders to accelerate the hands. --- Below are some points I made on the site. Your swing would greatly improve if you will apply them to your mechanics.

>>How the swing is initiated is by far the most important part of the swing. How the batter develops energy for the swing and the direction of the forces he applies to the bat at this point will determine his mechanics for the balance of the swing.

"A ballistic motion, once initiated, produces trajectories that can only be efficiently changed at its margins."

The (above) principle basically means the batter does not have to remember when to "pop his hips", "squeeze the trigger" or any of other batting mechanic principles. Once the hitter has properly initiated his swing, the rhythm of the ensuing mechanics are on autopilot. From the launch position to follow-through, what to do with his front toe, hips, hands, and so on, need never enter the batter's mind. Forces he applied at the start of the swing determined the sequence of the following mechanics. Now, his total concentration is on timing and getting the plane of the swing inline with the path of the ball.

When a batter initiates the swing with incorrect forces, the balance of the swing will be an exercise in compensation.<<

Jack Mankin

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Re: Re: hip turn Skipper [ Fri Feb 18 00:22:53 2000 ]

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> >>> i have a slow hip turn and if anyone has any drills to increase that would be helpful <<<
> 
> Hi Batter
> 
> Slow hips turn or not rotating at the correct time is a problem with many hitters. It is caused by not initiating the swing correctly. The more the batter uses the arms to accelerate the hands the greater the problem. Using the arms to initiate the swing leaves the rotation of the body out of the power generation. The hips and shoulders just come along for the ride but add little to the swing so there is no sequential order for them to open. 
> 
> A frame-by-frame breakdown of a great hitter’s swing clearly shows that the hips (and shoulders) lead the hands. Their arms are more relaxed and allow the rotation of the shoulders to accelerate the hands. --- Below are some points I made on the site. Your swing would greatly improve if you will apply them to your mechanics.
> 
> 
> >>How the swing is initiated is by far the most important part of the swing. How the batter develops energy for the swing and the direction of the forces he applies to the bat at this point will determine his mechanics for the balance of the swing. 
> 
> "A ballistic motion, once initiated, produces trajectories that can only be efficiently changed at its margins." 
> 
> The (above) principle basically means the batter does not have to remember when to "pop his hips", "squeeze the trigger" or any of other batting mechanic principles. Once the hitter has properly initiated his swing, the rhythm of the ensuing mechanics are on autopilot. From the launch position to follow-through, what to do with his front toe, hips, hands, and so on, need never enter the batter's mind. Forces he applied at the start of the swing determined the sequence of the following mechanics. Now, his total concentration is on timing and getting the plane of the swing inline with the path of the ball. 
> 
> When a batter initiates the swing with incorrect forces, the balance of the swing will be an exercise in compensation.<<
> 
> Jack Mankin

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