Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

I want to add to/further describe this quote: "What is the purpose of slotting elbow? It's simply what young players do to get on plane."

https://twitter.com/setprosports/status/1415750719198711812

What exactly does this "getting on plane" actually mean in the context on non-elite level hitters? And what are the exact kinds of joint articulations of the back arm/shoulder are involved?

Based on long experience/observation of non-elite hitters [starting at tee ball], it means the following:

1] Starting at tee ball essentially all hitters intuitively know that in order to hit a ball the barrel needs to move from a relatively vertical position [barrel variously pointing up towards the sky] to a much more horizontal position.

Which ,of course, better aligns to the plane of the trajectory of an incoming pitch. And, in the context of a ball hit of a tee as well, it moves the bat along the plane that develops angular momentum towards the target.

The EASIEST way to move the bat from a relatively vertical to a more horizontal posture----PHYSICALLY SPEAKING---is to externally rotate the back arm [you can think supination of the forearm if that helps so as to get more "palm up"].

This kind of shoulder articulation will result in the back elbow moving AHEAD the hands/knob. AND. As regards non-elite level hitters, this action happens INDEPENDENT of any hip rotation.

So, this kind of more distal articulation [relative to the more proximal muscle actions involved in actual hip rotation] are, in effect, DISCONNECTED from the more proximal hip rotation.

Meaning that these distal actions [of the back elbow/shoulder] are NOT linked to any kind of what I call "pulling effects" of the more proximal actions of the linkages of the pelvic girdle musculature.

THIS kind of muscle action/muscle sequencing/motor STRATEGY is in stark contrast to the Ohtani clip.

A couple of observational points to make about what Ohtani is doing with his back arm vs. non-elite hitters.

1] A significant difference ----though it is one very possibly difficult to understand by those who do not really understand subtle differences of shoulder articulations ---is that Ohtani is NOT creating external rotation at the ball joint.

He is really ADDUCTING at the ball joint. This can be best inferred by the fact that the BARREL ....stays/remains UP ---remains relatively VERTICAL as this articulation occurs.

It is not until the hip/trunk rotation that the barrel actually starts to ....CHANGE DIRECTION....from being relatively vertical to being PULLED ....via the trunk rotation, into a more horizontal angle.

Simply put, Ohtani is creating movement/muscle actions of the back arm/back shoulder that "fits" ---that works cooperatively with the hip/trunk rotation.

As opposed to most non-elite level hitters who variously "lead " with and organize the swing unload with a much more "distal" oriented motor/muscle strategy.

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