Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

I just saw this clip and I want to make a few comments that are somewhat distinct from others commenting.

https://twitter.com/evanruechel/status/1446574435427917829

First let me say that I agree that the bottom clip is a better swing. Simply put it's more efficient. What do i mean by this? Simply put, it's quicker from initiation to contact. Then the question is why is this the case?

To put it into a basic context I have used to analyze elite level hitters: They do 2 things well:1] they create very good bat/body alignment from initiation to contact and;2] they rotate the trunk really well.

So, in using this basic functional framework, the second swing better exhibits this framework. Why?

The second swing shows a SLIGHTLY quicker hip rotation ,i.e., he rotates INTO foot plant [if you look closely the first swing shows a full foot plant BEFORE any actual hip rotation].

I would argue that this difference of hip rotation quickness is due to a more efficient stride process. Simply put, he has a shorter stride in the second clip.

Based on long experience [and certain physiological considerations], shortening the stride tends to facilitate a better [more efficient] stride to rotate process. [Ex. of a relatively short stride are Bonds and Manny Ramirez].

As regards the upper trunk: The first clip shows more counter-rotation of the spine/shoulder line. The first clip also shows a back arm/elbow alignment that is MUCH more elevated, relative to the second clip.

A note as regards the first clip back arm elevation [which gets above the head as he strides]. This is NOT scapula loading. Actual scapula loading is retraction of the scapula. In contrast what is seen here is shoulder abduction [along the frontal plane].

The differences are , functionally speaking, distinct and VERY different [this is twitter-- I will not try to further explain this].

In the second clip, the back arm elbow is MUCH lower [and I will add here that one COULD create very substantial scapula retraction in the posture/alignment].Now, how does this difference in back arm alignment matter here?

Well, if you look closely, you will see that the actual upper trunk rotation [the shoulder line] starts to unload SLIGHTLY quicker.

The relatively high elbow in the first clip HAS to lower and, simply put, relative to the second clip, it is taking a longer time for this to happen.

One could argue that in the first clip the shoulder rotation, in effect, is WAITING for the back arm to get into better alignment BEFORE the shoulder rotation can happen [as teacher I have seen this kind of situation happen MANY times].

Lastly this: A close look at the 2 swings--swings which approximate a pretty similar pitch location---the lead arm actually is aligned HIGHER to the chest from lag to contact. And the knob/hand path is slightly higher.

This might seem somewhat contradictory in that the hands/arms are quite a bit lower in the second clip.

BUT. I would argue that this is not contradictory. Why?
Well, because the second swing shows better bat/body alignment at initiation. Therefore, from that point forward, the CONNECTION of the arms/bat to the rotational plane of the shoulders was better!

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