Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Mon Oct 8 15:16:22 2007

> > Daddio,
> >
> > You and your son are at a critical junction.
> >
> > If you keep trial and erring, you will learn that "shoulder rotation" is not a part of a high level swing.
> >
> > The coach could be right. Probably is. But I doubt he really knows how to fix it.
> >
> > The torquing the handle of the bat so the barrel goes rearward at launch ACCOMPANIED BY the "lateral tilt" of the shoulders is the answer.
> >
> > You see....the hips rotate. The shoulders do not.
> >
> > Shoulder rotation leads to two and only two options.
> >
> > 1) Bat drag....doing it slow enough so you can "stay in there"
> >
> > or
> >
> > 2) Pulling off the ball....when you really "get after it" to hit the ball hard.
> >
> > There is a better way.
>
>
> I agree shoulder tilt is important, BUT shoulder rotation is absolutely necessary. Pitching is similar to hitting and most of the velocity achieved is because of shoulder rotation. Glad you voice your opinion it gives an oppertunity to discuss the mechanics that are necessary for sucess concerning both hitting and pitching but not using the power that rotation gives you is bad advice.

Coach13,

I agree that the shoulders do rotate they have to if your hips are rotating, or else you would be stopping your swing. But I don't believe it to be that important in creating early bad speed. Like Teacherman described I believe lateral tilt to be more important to early bat speed. The lateral tilt along with the slotting of the elbow sends the barrel of the bat rearward increasing bat speed prior to commitment. If your shoulders powered your swing then your hands will drag behind.

I had a conversation with Teacherman via e-mail, I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning that, and he told me something that made sense. The shoulders tilting rearward creates a stretch and then release. This stretch and release creates early bat speed.(Teacherman if I am wrong please correct me, what you had to say makes sense)

If you just you your shoulders to power the swing then you are using more of a brute force type of movement which will not nearly create maximum bat speed.

In your description of throwing and hitting having similar mechanics. When you throw you do not just rotate your shoulders because if you did you would be throwing around your body and dragging your arm behind. That's why you see pitchers tucking there lead side elbow into there side and pulling downward. The shoulders rotate when the throwing hand is up in the proper position.

So, I do believe your shoulders to rotate but it is not this rotation that powers your swing.