Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Dec 13 05:46:19 2002

What is scapula loading and more importantly, how do you teach a player to do it? Can somebody explain?
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> > Is it pinching the shoulder blades together? How does that help in hitting? I have watched video (and of course I do not know what to look for) but I surely cannot see "scapula loading". And if I did, I wonder where that would rank in order of important things a hitter needs to be worried about - oh, I need to pinch my shoulder blades together. In Jack's video, where do you see this scapula loading that you keep talking about?
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> > Any guidance?
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> Tom or Jack or one of Nyman's better students is welcome to tell me I'm all wet, but my understanding of scapula loading is this. If both shoulder blades are pinched, then both would be loaded. Opposite would be unloaded. RH batter should start with the right scap loaded and the left scap fully unloaded. Look at the USA Today Bonds clips for an example of dynamic scapula use. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/gallery/bonds/flash.htm
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> Mark H.

Mark-
you are correct in your understanding.
Welcome to anatomy class. read on if you want the details.

The scapula or shoulder blade is one of the bones of the shoulder joint(s). With the clavicle or collar bone, it forms the Acromioclavicular (A-C) joint. The Glenohumeral joint is the humerus or upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. Internal and external rotation refer to the humerus rotating within this joint.
The acromioclavicular joint moves the entire Glenohumeral joint: when you shrug - shoulders to ears, or pull your shoulders back or round them forward. The scapula slides along the rib cage and is attached to the ribs, moved by the Serratus Anterior muscles. The rotator cuff muscles (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Subscapularis) connect the scapula to the humerus.

When Jack talks about the need for tight connection between shoulder turn and the arms/hands/bat, the scapula's role is critical.
When the upper body rotates quickly around the spine, any 'loose' parts will get momentarily left behind. Think of sitting in a car at a stop light, leaning slightly forward, when the driver suddenly floors it and goes 0 to 60 in 5 seconds in his fast sports car.
You will be slammed back into the seat, bounce forward some, then slam back and finally get pinned to the seat until acceleration slows or stops.
If your top hand shoulder (the right one for right handed hitters) is in a neutral position when rapid shoulder turn begins, it will likewise get slammed back and bounce around during the swing. It is the shoulder's version of Jack's slipped transmission (loss of connection between the hips and shoulders is what Jack refers to).

If instead, the hitter loads/retracts the scapula before shoulder turn, it will be like sitting back in the seat before the car accelerates. Shoulder turn will bring the entire shoulder complex smoothly in the arc of shoulder turn to contact, no bouncing around.

Jack has been very clear that actively pushing the top hand forward has negative effects on the swing. An unloaded shoulder at initiation of shoulder turn also has negative effects. Usually it results in a late, passive scapula 'load' followed by the shoulder, arm and hands being thrown out of the shoulder turn too early. The hands momentarily drag, then are thrown out of connection before contact. The Acromioclavicular (A-C) joint bounces around like the passenger in the sports car. Once the hands are thrown like that, the L comes out, etc. before contact. Proper scapula loading as part of the swing load process can prevent that and maintain connection through contact just like sitting back in your seat will prevent whiplash.