Posted by: () on Thu Jan 2 20:51:01 2003

Golf analysis/instruction(driven by many dollars for a long period of time) is way ahead of hitting.
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> Skilltechnologies.com is an interesting website.My computer won't download the free 3D viewer there,but from looking around you can see a nice description of the golf swing.Apparently there is some nice hitting video available too.I would appreciate anyone who has viewed this to comment.
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> This type analysis is very detailed,but remains video-based,so the actual internal workings and feel of the body are not captured as they would be more in depth with EMG for example.In addition,you will still to some degree see only what you look for.In addition to slowing down video with multiple views and 3D reconstruction,you also can use the computer to look for patterns("artificial intelligence") that might be "absolutes" of the great swing.Interesting stuff.
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> Comparative analysis between golf and hitting is also interesting.The info at the skilltechnology site on golf and Jack's info here and on final arc II suggest to me that body rotation is similar,but "transfer mechanics" are very different between golf and hitting.This fits with the feel of the 2 sports,especially as experienced with Jack's golf club/THT demo.
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> Comparison:
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> The golf analysis shows the degree of coil/stretch(angle/separation between torso and hip) which they call the "X-factor" is important for a good swing(it is similar to Epstein's "torque angle" for hitting).This "separation" maxes during the downswing as the hips begin opening while the club is still getting to the top of the backswing.
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> In addition,the measurements over time show the sequential nature of motion from hips to wrists.
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> The wrists ideally(golf) stay cocked during the downswing,cocking slightly more in the latter part of the downswing before uncocking completely just prior to contact.
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> For hitting a quicker(more rapid acceleration)/shorter swing(swing radius/path of sweetspot)is necessary to adjust for limited reaction time.Jack seems to have figured out how this happens via tht and the circular handpath as can be seen/felt with his golf club drill.In looking at video of great hitters,it seems that the optimal shape swing(not just arc but timing of acceleration to optimize timing and plate coverage)requires entirely different transfer mechanics in which the bat starts turning around a point on the handle of the bat before the torso launches to provide a circular handpath that harnesses torso energy(after the torso has been energized by hip deceleration/momentum transfer)to efficiently increase batspeed.The "steering wheel knob" demonstration shows how this transfer takes place.Presumably,the more the bat is turning prior to this the quicker the swing given the same handpath radius.
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> What should be seen in detailed video of hitting(if I am interpreting Jack's model reasonably) is the bat turning before torso launch,beginning at or before maximum hip turn velocity("uncocking hip").There should be sequential hip then torso turn with the hands turning with the torso and the bat turning in a plane perpendicular to the torso without extension of the handpath at/shortly after launch.The wrist angle(bat angle in relation to lead forearm) should smoothly decrease unlike the "double pendulum"(arm and club as 2 pieces connected at wrist) type of the golf swing.
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> A significant backswing is undesirable in hitting,but an "X-factor" should still be seen which maxes out at launch.
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> If analysis supports this,then it is a matter of how the body accomplishes this and what it feels like so it can be taught.I believe a necessary part of this is teaching how to cock the hips as the stride foot lifts associated with vertical cocking of the bat and internal rotation of the limbs,especially the back arm.The body can then stretch/coil without taking a big backswing and the bat can begin turning and dropping into the swing plane as scap loading proceeds prior to the back elbow dropping as the hips uncock.
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> Furthermore,you could classify the golf swing as a long rotational swing with higher ultimate batspeed.This swing would have too much timing error and is a poor shape for the hitting task.
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> Hitting would then ideally be a short rotational swing with quicker acceleration and low timing error.
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> As Jack says("goat vs bat on a rope",etc.)a linear swing will result from the handpath extending which prevents body rotation from efficiently turning the bat.This will degrade batspeed and provide poor plate coverage with more timing error(timing error may be acceptable in a slower swing to just make contact?).
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> Anyone out there downloaded the skilltechnologies stuff ?


> Very interesting comparisons. I've attempted to download skilltechnologies stuff with no success. Tom, if you remember, Paul at setpro in the Hitters PFV wanted to buy exclusive rights to an analysis software program, if I remember right, and I believe someone beat him to it. Do you remember who it was? It seems like it may have been Frozen Ropes. Correct me if I'm wrong. I would really like to find this software.