Posted by: Dave (cdpaetkau@telus.net) on Tue Nov 16 04:27:06 2004

>>> I believe that the lower half including feet, hips and weight transfer is the basis for a powerful swing to begin for without a good base the rotation above the base is limited. The mechanics of the lower half determines the ability and efficiency of keeping your hands back.
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> Question
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> If this is the case then is not the beginning of the swing (I see the swing as starting with any movements either forward/backward or rotational) when the lower half is leading the swing as important as what happens to the hands afterward? <<<
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> Hi Dave
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> I understand you may think I do not believe in the “kinetic chain” because of my problems with the term “sequential.” Putting aside a discussion of “sequential.” for the moment, I believe the ‘ground up’ theory of the kinetic chain is more efficient for rotational transfer mechanics than the “center out’ version. My thinking is very similar to the way Tom Querry described the twisting of the rubber band in the Adair thread.
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> Having said that, I also believe most coaches put far too much emphasis on teaching lower body mechanics. As you probably know, I break the swing into two parts – the energy development phase (generating hip and shoulder rotation) and the energy transfer phase (rotational transfer mechanics). I have found that once a student learns how to acquire a good launch position, having them concentrate on using sound rotational transfer principles results in their acquiring sound energy development mechanics.
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> Jack Mankin
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>

Hi Jack

Thanks for your insite. I agree with you that most kids (adults also) have problem learning the proper launch position not only at the launch of the swing but also at the launch of the ball (contact point). I do teach them how to get into the proper launch position however time after time they break down getting into this position once the ball starts to move due to pre launch lower and upper body mechanics.

I have been told that there is a North American way of teaching mechanics which is from start to finish and there is a European way of teaching which is finish oriented. This means that if the person is never put into the position that they are to get to (proper launch position of hands for the preswing routine and the proper launch position of the ball for the swing and proper finish of the swing for post contact position) and they never know how this is supposed to feel and therefor have problems getting to that position. This could be a completely new thread but I will get back to the conversation at hand.

I now pose the question that if the lower body mechanics (ie internal rotation of the back foot early in the preswing phase) causes the shoulders to prematurely rotate and hands to move forward too early in the swing then is perfect transfer mechanics (THT,CHP,BHT) enough to compensate for the poor start?

MY ANSWER

Through perfect transfer mechanics the that particular swing will be maximized but the maximum bathead speed for that individual will never be maximized until the lower body mechanics are fixed. Poor lower body positioning in the prelaunch may also effect post launch results (THT,CHP,BHT) if they must compensate for the positioning in order to make contct with the ball.

Thoughts??

DAve