Posted by: Meathead () on Mon Jun 7 07:54:01 2004

Jack, this is my take on what is meant by "scapula loading." The back shoulderblade is pinched back away from the plate, aiding in keeping the lead arm across the chest while rotation brings the bathead around. While pinching the back shoulderblade, elbow, and top hand back, the bathead stays in the correct circular path. In other words scapula loading is a cue, that aids in top hand torque. To be made simpler, I'd suggest cues such as hide the hands, keep the hands back, arc the the bathead back around toward the cather in a circular path.
While scapula loading takes place during the loading phase of the swing, using it as a cue may promote a ridgid, tense, jerky swing. I prefer thinking about rotating the front shoulder inward, and staying relaxed, letting the badhead arc around effortlessly.