How the back elbow works is more a result of staying connected, not necessarily posture (spine angle). If you push to the ball as Sandman suggested your back elbow is not working properly regardless of posture. Swing a bat...and while swinging... maintain your your posture (spine angle) but disconnect and push your hands to the ball and see if your elbow is working properly...I think not despite maintaining your posture (spine angle)... therefore how is posture more important than staying connected to how the back elbow works?
Wouldn't pushing the hands be a result of poor posture if you did that?
I think that slotting the elbow is ALL because of posture. Posture is not just spine angle.
quote:I'm pretty sure I can slot my back elbow during a swing in which I totally let my hands take over (and push to the ball), i.e. disconnect???
I think that slotting the elbow is ALL because of posture. Posture is not just spine angle.
Exactly, sb. I'm suggesting that if you have the proper posture, you won't NEED to disconnect. True, you might still, but you shouldn't need to. And if you don't, your elbow will slot fine all by itself when you turn your shoulders.
quote:Wouldn't pushing the hands be a result of poor posture if you did that?
Pushing the hands would be disconnecting in which case the back elbow wouldn't be slotting naturally...I see posture and swing plane as separate components of the swing i.e. posture (spine angle) sets the swing plane with lead arm perpendicular to point of intended contact...staying connected is holding that swing plane.
You know, there is never a lot of agreement on this board, but there are some good things offered. I love the analytical breakdown and discussions about the swing... our high school coach was taught the linear approach back in the sixties and seventies and everything else is wrong, too complicated or ineffective. 
Most High School coaches are ill-informed as to how MLB hitters swing a bat......
Posture - positioning the body to properly/efficiently set the swing plane and load the hips/shoulders. One indicator is that the bat path is perpendicular to the spine (or parallel to the shoulders) during the swing.
Connection - connecting the bat to the rotating torso rather than allowing the hands/arms to work independently of the power source. One way to recognize good connection is to see if the hitter "maintains the box" - that is, the basic shape of the forearms, upper front arm, and shoulders remains very close to the same throughout the initial phases of the swing.
Rotation - unloading those loaded core muscles to turn body. PCR rotation includes transferring the weight to a firm front foot - there is no "squishing the bug".
Connection - connecting the bat to the rotating torso rather than allowing the hands/arms to work independently of the power source. One way to recognize good connection is to see if the hitter "maintains the box" - that is, the basic shape of the forearms, upper front arm, and shoulders remains very close to the same throughout the initial phases of the swing.
Rotation - unloading those loaded core muscles to turn body. PCR rotation includes transferring the weight to a firm front foot - there is no "squishing the bug".
There is an expression that is often used, "The Next Level".
I have noticed that a player should be at the top of the level of the existing competition at each level. This is one of the main reasons why playing in top notch tournaments against the best competition will expose the higher level talent.
Concerning Beast's swing, he exhibits good contact with his stride swing getting good results. Using the No Stride in his swing would be eliminating one facet of his bat delivery, quickening his speed of bat delivery into the zone of contact.
While it may be a good swing at a higher level of play against faster pitching, I think it will cause him to over swing at the high school level. If he intentionally slows the no stride swing for better contact at the high school level, he may lose the ability to once again quicken his swing at the next level.
No sense in bringing a Howitzer to a turkey shoot and no reason to peak before reaching the highest level.
Just my thoughts on the subject.
I have noticed that a player should be at the top of the level of the existing competition at each level. This is one of the main reasons why playing in top notch tournaments against the best competition will expose the higher level talent.
Concerning Beast's swing, he exhibits good contact with his stride swing getting good results. Using the No Stride in his swing would be eliminating one facet of his bat delivery, quickening his speed of bat delivery into the zone of contact.
While it may be a good swing at a higher level of play against faster pitching, I think it will cause him to over swing at the high school level. If he intentionally slows the no stride swing for better contact at the high school level, he may lose the ability to once again quicken his swing at the next level.
No sense in bringing a Howitzer to a turkey shoot and no reason to peak before reaching the highest level.
Just my thoughts on the subject.
Vance,
You have me a bit puzzled...
Sandman wrote:
Perhaps it's a combo of proper posture AND connection, but I would think that the posture is a bit more important in this context (automatic/subconscious elbow slotting).
I wrote:
Posture (spine angle) establishes swing path/trajectory based on the hitters pre-deterimed point of contact....letting your hands take over and pushing to the ball as you say is disconnecting but not necessarily related to posture...
You wrote:
Sandman...yes you are the man. You have it! Thanks
Your response to Sandman would indicate you agree that the elbow slotting properly is more related to posture then staying connected.
You then wrote:
Posture - positioning the body to properly/efficiently set the swing plane and load the hips/shoulders. One indicator is that the bat path is perpendicular to the spine (or parallel to the shoulders) during the swing.
Connection - connecting the bat to the rotating torso rather than allowing the hands/arms to work independently of the power source. One way to recognize good connection is to see if the hitter "maintains the box" - that is, the basic shape of the forearms, upper front arm, and shoulders remains very close to the same throughout the initial phases of the swing.
Your own definition of posture and connection would indicate the back elbow slotting/working properly is more related to connection (maintaining the box) then posture as I had stated and wondering if you still feel it has more to do with posture. Please clarify. Thanks.
You have me a bit puzzled...
Sandman wrote:
Perhaps it's a combo of proper posture AND connection, but I would think that the posture is a bit more important in this context (automatic/subconscious elbow slotting).
I wrote:
Posture (spine angle) establishes swing path/trajectory based on the hitters pre-deterimed point of contact....letting your hands take over and pushing to the ball as you say is disconnecting but not necessarily related to posture...
You wrote:
Sandman...yes you are the man. You have it! Thanks
Your response to Sandman would indicate you agree that the elbow slotting properly is more related to posture then staying connected.
You then wrote:
Posture - positioning the body to properly/efficiently set the swing plane and load the hips/shoulders. One indicator is that the bat path is perpendicular to the spine (or parallel to the shoulders) during the swing.
Connection - connecting the bat to the rotating torso rather than allowing the hands/arms to work independently of the power source. One way to recognize good connection is to see if the hitter "maintains the box" - that is, the basic shape of the forearms, upper front arm, and shoulders remains very close to the same throughout the initial phases of the swing.
Your own definition of posture and connection would indicate the back elbow slotting/working properly is more related to connection (maintaining the box) then posture as I had stated and wondering if you still feel it has more to do with posture. Please clarify. Thanks.
