Hips??????

Tell it to the Babe.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueDog:
There is way too much concentration on turning the hips when swinging a bat around here, IMO.......

What's the alternative?

What would you have people focus on and why?

If I get BD's drift... I know that when I focus too much in my golf swing on turning the hips, I end up spinning them out so early that I "lose" my hands/arms behind my body, resulting in either a classic "outside/in over-the-top pull/hook or block/slice" OR worse, the dreaded shank.

Yes, the hips do lead the way, but there's probably a point of diminishing (damaging) returns?

Is that what you're alluding to, BD?

The hips turn as a consequence of something else, IMO......

quote:

Originally posted by BlueDog:
The hips turn as a consequence of something else, IMO......

And what is that?

Bluedog, do you then argue that the hips aren't beginning to open as that front heel hits?

On another board the discussion on hips and the inside low pitch was very interesting. ie. sit (very minute but present), hips open in the same movement as the hitter adjust tilt to react to ball location. Something to think about. I'll look around for some video.

Forgot to add, do you think that the hips respond to the hitter moving the middle?

Good Video of a MLB Hitter "Moving the Middle."

http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/analysis?p=10&n=1&m=20&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=9

quote:

Bluedog, do you then argue that the hips aren't beginning to open as that front heel hits?

Coach, I believe in some hitters they do and in some they don't....

Some hitters rotate into footplant and some don't, IMO....

quote:

.....do you think that the hips respond to the hitter moving the middle?

I do indeed....

quote:

Originally posted by CoachB25:
Bluedog, do you then argue that the hips aren't beginning to open as that front heel hits?

The hips start to open long before heel plant.

Uhhhh, not in all hitters......

http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/pro?p=11&n=1&m=12&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=9

quote:

Do you think that the middle moves before the hands?

If it doesn't, you've got problems......

quote:

Originally posted by Chameleon:

quote:

Originally posted by CoachB25:
Bluedog, do you then argue that the hips aren't beginning to open as that front heel hits?

The hips start to open long before heel plant.

Yes, as per the video I linked to on Siggy's site. I made this statement (Question) in this manner to let Blue Dog discuss it. FYI, I was trying to get away from the impression that I try to force my views on others with regards to hitting. Rather, I'd let you, Blue Dog, etc. make your case. Thus the aforementioned statement about not posting on this site much in the hitting forum recently.

Blue Dog, nice use of Siggy's site to make your point!

Take care,

I would like to add one more thing to this discussion. ie. the use of video. Chameleon made the point on another site about the use of video both in slow motion and in real time. It was a valid point. I find that I'm spending a huge amount of time on my RVP Program (you can use several programs so you don't have to have the software I have.) watching MLB Hitters lately. I did a session with some of my Dads in our feeder program this past few weeks where we looked at what they were taught as players/kids and what the realities are. (Now, I know we can take these "realities" and even argue them.) What transpired was that many had not watched video ever. EVER! In all of our quest to understand what we are teaching, I think that Chameleon's point is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL in that journey! JMHO!

(Kind of like what I wanted Blue Dog to discuss and what he referenced in the video link he provided.)

Here's another perspective of Manny, stopping at the first frame at which he drops his heel.

Hips turning already or not?

quote:

Originally posted by Sandman:
Hips turning already or not?

Looks to me like Manny's hips (just barely) start to turn a couple of frames before the front heel plants.

That's before the heel plants, but not well before in the case of Manny.

Believe it's safe to say that the vast majority of MLB hitters do rotate into foot plant.

A good swing takes under 5 frames.

Looks like Manny is turning his hips 2-3 frames before heel plant

Thepainguy says "that is not well before".

It's only 40-60% of the entire swing duration.

Compare these......Hips open in different time frames...


http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/mac03.mpeg

http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/mpg/Guerrero01.mpeg

Based on my observations hips generally begin to open at about toe touch...