Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Mon Jan 20 15:01:16 2003

>>> 4)Mo Vaughn and some other thicker body types fold at the middle - front shoulder toward front knee, then drive the hips forward through that hip/shoulder line with emphasis on the back hip. It is a combo hip thrust and twist. This is a very powerful and quick movement. Bonds does a more elegant version of this.<<<
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> Hi Major Dan
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> We are on the same page. But in your above analysis, I think they (especially Bonds) uses the extension of lead-leg to drive the lead-hip around and back toward the catcher more than driving their back-hip forward. So I would say they emphasis the front-hip more (or at least as much) than the back-hip.
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> Jack Mankin
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I think they both happen. I put more emphasis on the back hip in terms of the force used to 'unfold' the body. The lead leg/front hip plays an equally important role IMO.
While we both see the same action/motion from the outside view, I feel that the swing originates from the hips and works both down and up. If you 'pop' the hips to start the swing, the back hip drives forward, the lead hip pulls around and the front leg straightens as a result of this.
"uses the extension of lead-leg to drive the lead-hip around and back toward the catcher" I'd say "drives the lead-hip around... to create lead-leg extension"

We disagree possibly on cause and effect, but we are looking at the same event. I used to teach front heel down to trigger the swing.
Now I teach to pop the hips from a balanced stance. The front heel rotates into foot plant, but it is a result of the hip action. Looks the same however But I can get consistent results with very little complication/overthink/overteach on my and my students' parts.