Posted by: Coach C () on Thu Jan 9 09:57:24 2003

The debate on rotational mechanics and linear weight transfer
> mechanics is as old as baseball itself. I'm not convinced it will
> ever be agreed upon, mainly because neither term really applies to my
> way of thinking.
> > Unfortunately the body is not constructed with a single pole in
> which to rotate upon, in fact, our legs, are like that of a tripod.
> They help keep us grounded and if one leg is straigter than the other
> we have hip or spine tilt. This straightning of the front leg is what
> generally turns a level cut into a slight upswing, or in some cases an
> extreme uppercut. The hip joints themselves do not turn, it is the
> torso, constructed from the base of the spine that creates the torque.
> However in an effort to add upper body torque, many hitters feel the
> strong need contribute excessive leg action (ie..hip thrust) to get
> the torso to turn. Normally it is young hitters that create this
> excessive leg action that never really feel the torso power. In other
> words they combine the torso turn with the leg thrust. This excessive
> leg action is what most hitting instructors have the hardest time
> seeing and teaching.
> > I have a real concern with anyone that preaches straight legs in the
> baseball swing, mainly because straight legs create angles and also
> lock hips, which contribute to bad balance. In any sport that I lock
> my legs I get beat. Lock the front leg early in a baseball swing.....
> and I'll get beat. Now I must say, great hitters do lock there front
> leg normally (not always), however, it comes with a price even for
> them, but the real issue is how they go about locking the front leg.
> Getting into that all too familiar "sit to hit position" is the art of
> a great athlete and generally a great hitter. In viewing Jacks video
> I see the kids just straightening the front leg, with never the notion
> of sitting to hit. But then I see the hitting instructor, getting a
> nice front knee bend, thereby, positioning the legs for all of this
> upper body torque. In golf they call it the "magic move." This magic
> move is a slight lateral slide while the upper body begins it
> unwinding (rotation). This to me is why the debate is never ending.
> Great atheletes/hitters can do both at the same time, but when either
> becomes excessive , then you have a issues in my opinion. This is why
> everyone looks different when they swing in my opinion.
> >
> > In summary the front leg becomes the core element of my teaching.
> If I can get a kid to keep this leg in contact with the ground at the
> initiation of the swing, but with good flexion and stability and I
> give this kid the best opportunity to be succesful. If I see kids
> locking legs than he or she will have problems, until they understand
> how the front leg is supposed to lock, by rotating laterally with
> athletic legs.
> >
> > The legs are stabalizers in a baseball swing, power drive is a
> distant second. When they are not in the best position for stability,
> they will fail and so too will the swing.
> >
> > In my humble opinion.
> >
> > Coach C,
> It is my understanding that Mr.Mankin's tape instructs us to step
> square (with front knee flexed),land lightly on the front toe(with
> front knee flexed),which allows the ankle to rotate the heel backwards
> therby facilitating the opening of the hips in a timely manner.The
> front knee does not straighten until close to or at contact.Would
> following this procedure jive with your post ?How does keeping the
> front


Simply stated on low pitches......Do not lock the front leg, the body needs to work up and down, not forward or back. If you lock your front leg on a low pitch you create angles and great pitchers will own that hitter. Try doing low tee work and see what kind of ball flight you generate with a locked front side (just check out the angle you create with the bat), you know spin and trajectory. Jack, as I've said, does a good job and I love his work, but I would not teach it that way....with all do respect. I have a saying and it goes........"Never judge those for who's shoes I have not walked" I respect Jack and believe he thinks he's right........This works for me!

Coach C