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Coach C ..This has been a recent area of interest for me . I incorrectly thought that the front leg stiffening was more involved in early launch. I was wrong. Epstein shows (in the torque drill) players going to finish and still over a bent front knee on some swings. This is not correct or realistic either based on video analysis of good players.

THere is more going on here and I wish we could all relook this area. THink about it....if the hips are still closed and you fire your front leg back would they exert a rotational force or a backward linear force that just pushed the batter backwards? The hips have to rotate open for a short distance to create the open angle so that the stiffening (entending) front leg is accelerating and further opening and rotating the hips "in a barrel".

Brings me back to Bonds. THe bent rear knee and the inward back toe at times allows his rear hip to rotate inward quickly at early launch. He probably uses forces that come from the lower torso and abds, the early downward move of his shoulders( rear elbow)and the dropping to parallel of his rear leg to begin the opening of the hips the first few degrees to set up for the stiffening front leg to apply hip power nearing and through ball contact.

"Squish the bug" fails miserably to explain anything and with some players dragging the rear toe or lifting through contact it gives argument that rear side mechancics mean nothing. Rear side mechanic might mean nothing at contact but they do account for things at early launch as evidenced by what happens in a negative sense if one pushes with the rear leg. I would not classify guys doing either( lifting or dragging) as having the fastest swings. When you put into your search criteria two words ...quickness and power then Bonds mentally comes up every time. I say his early launch mechancis and his tight rotation are the reason. I also say there is more to study about his rear side mechancis in early launch that facilitate this. While I agree the late power of the swing is not rear side driven, the early launch depends on the rear side to work in concert with torso muscles to initiate the very first move to the ball. The high loaded rear elbow and the rear knee coming down do exert a rear side rotation that create momentum that is continued and accelerated by the front leg stiffening at contact.
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Looks like he lunged a bit. (bad) He had to make a bit of an adjustment due to the pitch being up and/or in. The hips led the shoulders and his elbow was pulled into the slot. (good) His hands look to have started back although you can't see where he was at the beginning of his stance from this clip. Looks like linear momentum transitioning into rotational. I'd like to see what his front leg does relative to straightening when he isn't making an adjustment on a pitch. Too much movement for an ideal swing but obviously it has worked pretty well for him.
Totally agree with the assesment. Is he lunging or does he just have a long stride to create momentum to uncock the hips.

A little like Aaron to me. Glauss, ARod. This kind of swing might have a bigger timing error and hit for less average. BUT ..can hit some bombs. I like the upper body load finishing precisely at toe touch. That swing is very athletic and sets up for max torque and max stride momentum. He intends to sacrifice some body control for maximum power IMO
Jason,

I looked up his stats . Fun to compare them to swing. They are what you would figure. Center fielder, fast, 5'10" 167 lbs. 285 hitter. 83 career HR 1/56 at bat SO 1/9.

A good contact hitter huh?. Don't see many players today with their hands in that positon at toe touch. The power hitters have the bat more centered( much ****her back). Not much preswing motion /action...simple loaded position, solid base and hands through the ball.
I find his front foot action interesting. Rather than landing 45 degrees and with a low heel he has a little higher heel and wrapping( circling) action with the front foot as he uncocks his hips prior to front leg extension.It occurs in concert with the rear knee dropping down and forward. Seems to initiate the swing with the front foot/leg/hip action and while his hands are not far back they remain still and short/quick to the ball.

He made $6,000,000 on his last contract if I am reading that correctly. ThAt would stop up some cracks at my house!
I don't think of Juan Gonzalez as lunging here.He is one who really accentuates hooking the handpath for the inside pitch.In this case he has to also get up for the high ball.The head comes forward longer than usual,but,I think as long as the head has stopped going forward by the time the bathead leaves the arc of the handpath(which is after front heel down and after max separation and after launch/initiation/torso turn,but before or at "lag" depending on how you define this)the swing remains efficient.You theoretically need to be on plane and have a non lunging axis and some deceleration of the hips so the torso has gotten momentum transfer by the time the center of mass of the bat leaves the arc of the handpath.

here's a link to another big handpath hook clip/thread by Piazza.You will have to replace the ****** with the magic letters.

http://www.******.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000507#000000

Handpath hook is done on the approach as contact nears,not at launch/initiation which would just create disconnect.As such it may permit very late but effective adjustmant or permit waiting longer on the ball when looking middle in or let you still get around on high cheese that is more inside.

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