Posted by: SteveT () on Fri Aug 25 15:12:30 2000

>>> jack...much of what you say makes sense, but i have a few comments.....(1) RQL asked what the kenetic chain is.....(2) you stated "noted batting authorities like Schmidt and Ellis (The Mike Schmidt Study) say the swing is a combination of the two." ("the two" being rotational & linear).....schmidt is not quite saying that....schmidt is saying that on inside pitches use rotation, on outside pitches use weightshift techniques and on down-the-middle pitches use the "combo" method....it is this combo method where there may be "blending" of the 2 methods.....(3) all good hittters rotate and all good hitters shift weight from backside to frontside....rotational hitters simply , in general get more hip rotation than "weightshifters" do..."weightshifters" have a tendency to lead a little more with the hands & havd a tendency to have a little more forward body movement BEFORE hip rotation begins...of course, both of these tendencies retard full hip rotation....(4) finally, would you concede that at least on an outside pitch "linear mechanics" could work just about as well as the top-hand torque method?....i certainly won't take it personally if you disagree with my analysis....respectfully, grc..... <<<
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> Hi grc
> >>>(1) RQL asked what the kenetic chain is...<<<.
>
> I think term " kinetic chain" is a good way to describe the progression of energy from the legs, hip and torso muscles that causes the shoulders to rotate. But I disagree with the "whip" analogy associated with the kinetic chain for accelerating the bat-head in the baseball swing. It is claimed that, as in the crack of a whip, the slower moving larger muscles accelerates the smaller muscles many times over, or at least to much greater velocities. This may very well be the case under a low load activity like throwing a baseball. But how much "whip action" would you find in shoving a 16 lb. shot-put. The same could be said for swing bat. --- A close examination of the swing will show that the angular displacement for the hands is only a few degrees more than for the shoulders from initiation to contact. This means the larger muscles are moving almost as fast as the smaller ones.
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> >>> (2 & 3) <<<
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> I have stated many times that "linear movements" of the body or hands, has little or no positive impact on bat speed development.
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> >>>(4) finally, would you concede that at least on an outside pitch "linear mechanics" could work just about as well as the top-hand torque method?<<<
>
> Absolutely not. --- In fact, many of the great hitters, like Big Mac, have moved a few inches further from the plate so they can use more top-hand-torque more often. Applying more torque at initiation causes the arms to cast out further for outside pitches. This is why he now hits more often with a bent front leg (did not finish hip rotation).
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> Jack Mankin
>

Hi Jack,

I agree with most of what you posted here. But I would caution against confusing "angular displacement" with "angular velocity." In the swing of Griffey, for instance, the shoulder angular velocity as the bat nears contact is roughly twice that of the hips.

This does not in itself call for the "whip analogy" But I thought the distinction should be made. But if you're saying that the (peak) angular velocity of the hands is close to the same as that of the hips, I would have to strongly disagree.

Regards,

Steve Taylor