Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Tue Dec 17 11:45:32 2002

Williams and others have said to let the hips lead first. How do you do this? I mean when I swing my first reaction is swing and the bat is in my hands not my hips. I guess what I'm saying is that if I consciously start hips first by the time I then start the hands and so forth it's too late to hit the ball.In other words from a mental point of view how do I rid my self of the thought process of hands first and instead hips first?
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> > You first must realize that the swing is a core body movement with much less movement from the hands and arms as is generally believed. The hands and arms should be connected to a rotating torso. Their movement is much more a result of the moving torso than their moving independently on their own. Once this concept is understood it is much easier to start the swing with the body/hips/torso with the connected hands coming along with it.
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> Can someone please answer my question?

Several good approaches-Read Williams,Checkout Epstein or check out the info here.

As an example,let's take the Williams approach,Science of hitting,1986 revised edition.Lots of good stuff in there about all aspects.3 most imprtant things are 1-get a good pitch to hit,2-"proper thinking" and 3- being quick to the ball,AKA "mechanics".

Your question has to do mostly with mechanics.Read Ted's stuff.

Take your stance,then

Cock the hips-Ted describes this as an inward turn of the front knee that assists the hips in rotating back as the stride begins while the hands cock at the same time.I would describe it as simultaneously internally rotating the 4 limbs while bending at the waist.Now the hip is cocked.Ted also emphasizes keeping the head back and stayoing balanced.

Ted glosses over the next part by just saying "make your stride".This is the "scap loading" phase of the swing which Jack describes as THT.But if you look at Ted's frame by frame pictures you can get a sense of the necessary motion as you read his text.Keep the hip "cocked"until after toe touch.Jack details THT,good connection, and then circular handpath as the torso turns("launch").Ted and Mike Epstein emphasize keeping the hands in.

Rotation starts with "uncocking"/turning the hips.Again,read Ted's description.Hips lead,hands follow.Hips at 80-85%,hands at 100%.Look at Ted's pictures.Imitate them to find what style of doing this fits you best.Or try Jack's drills,or Epstein's.Emulation/Williams approach would take several years for a good minor leaguer to start mastering.Perhaps with earlier intervention and more structured drills,the learning process can be compressed.

Is this a good start?