Posted by: Mark H. () on Fri Jan 3 14:24:50 2003

>>> Jack, When rotating the hips, would you like to see the player rotate at 100% full force as long as he can maintain balance throughout the swing? Or would you say 90%-80% etc. <<<
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> > Hi Mac
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> > When discussing “hip rotation,” it is important to keep in mind that the hips do not have a direct link to the bat. It is “shoulder rotation” (through the arms) that directly drives the generation of bat speed. The hips contribute to bat speed by their contribution to shoulder rotation. --- This is why I have often stated; “Nothing that takes place below the armpits has any impact on bat speed ……..other than its contribution to shoulder rotation.”
> >
> > Mac, I do not like the terms like “pop the hips”, “explode into the ball” or any segmented type of mechanics that produce tense, jerky movements. It is more constructive to think of the swing as the constant application of power that promotes smooth, powerful and ever-accelerating movements.
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> > An inward-turn and good linkage in the launch position should allow the batter to apply full power from initiation without creating a tense jerky swing.
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> > Jack Mankin
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>
> >>>>Jack, Thanks for the quick response. Sometimes, I don't get my questions across as well as I would like. My thoughts on the hips opening quickly and with balanced effort were about having the hitter stay inside the ball. If they rotate quickly and efficiently won't the shoulders, hands and bat be in better position to swing hard and still stay inside the ball. The main reason that I ask is that today, most HS and College coaches preach going the other way with the ball so much, that they forget that the "pull" side of the field counts too.I see over 200 HS and College games each year, and the players that can pull the ball consistently, get it in the air and keep it fair can be counted on one hand. My question to you was to ask you in your mind, how quickly you would like to see the hips rotate and clear the way for the shoulders, arms, hands and bat?

Not answering for Jack, but to interject my opinion, I expect the reason many of these coaches preach going the other way, is because the linear mechanics they often teach are most at home poking the ball to the opposite field. Since their kids have been schooled in linear mechanics, they become more successful when they focus on hitting opposite field for contact rather than power and the coaches think they have it licked. Keep in mind the coach is concerned, often, with success now, rather than can the athlete move to the next level and so he teaches what he knows and what is easy to teach even if it makes no sense for the big strong slow kid who wants to play in college. Bottom line-if you are talking about a kid who uses linear mechanics, the coach is telling them the right thing as far as hit the ball to the opposite field. Without reworking his mechanics, this is the best strategy IMO.

Mark H.