Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Mon Aug 20 09:42:23 2007

Jack -

I think this discussion is generating more light than heat. The fact that Richard is now describing a swing that agrees much more with your principles than in the past may be a good thing.

The way I see it, I would describe "prelaunch tht" as a requirement for an adequate swing, niot a nice to have.

Then at initiation, the shoulders are slaved to the arms/forearms/hands in increasing the bathead acceleration by handle torque which keeps the hands/shoulders back/resisting so that the torso can load "better" (better meaning with a last quick stretch that reverses efficiently, better not meaning just more coil is better).

his means the shoulders actively tilt to anhance torque that is already underway - THT at launch or THT at initiation.

This gives the appearance of the front shoulder "staying in there" as opposed to the front shoulder "flying open".

This is not to say that the shoulder rotation is inhibited, but that it results from assisting handle torque and then connecting and being turned by the untwisting of the torso.

I like to emphasize the importance of the prelaunch THT which is where "arm action is king" becasue this is how the timing of coil and load and setting of swing radius happens. The lower limbs will synch with the upper limbs to permite tootal body control.

Richard likes to focus on the forearm action which predominates slightly later with "THT at launch" or at "initiation" which enhances load for a better reversal.

I think it is important to emphasize that at initiation, it is more important that the shoulders work with the arms/hands/bat to resist hip turn and finish a better load than to think of trying to turn everything together, but then, cues and their interpretation are very variable.