Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

I have stated MANY times over the yrs. [starting about circa 2002] had hitting instructors spent as many hrs. as I did [thousands of hrs.] looking at and coming to REALLY understand the info from Paul Nyman at Setpro, the "culture of instruction" [my term] would be more advanced.

As an ex. of this, I'll cite this attempt to analyze Griffey's swing:

Now I should hasten to add that this explanation is not a horrible analysis. The author does seem to understand somewhat, the kind of of postural dynamics Griffey creates.

BUT. From my vantage point he lacks a real understanding as to the physics/physiology, thus his explanation really lacks "explanatory power",i.e., he does NOT really explain what and why Griffey moves as he does.

I would argue that had this author seen/understood Nyman's lead arm swing plane model coupled with a working understanding of the compound pendulum model of a swing he would be much better able to explain the swing.

Nyman's lead arm swing plane model IS an example of an elite level swing AND an optimal compound pendulum geometry.

The latter part of this statement goes to the issue of optimizing momentum/momentum transfer from body to bat.

Meaning simply that in order to maximize momentum [bat speed at contact], one needs to create rotary motion of the arms/upper trunk that is PERPINDICULAR to the central axis [the spine].

And this fact is PRECISELY why Griffey goes about creating HIP FLEXION, which tilts the spine angle, in anticipation that gravitational effects will cause the ball to drop.

Robert Adair, in his bk. "The Physics of Baseball" stated that a 90 mph fastball [typically] drops about 1 ft. every 20 ft.

Griffey [and essentially all elite level hitters] intuitively understand this. AND he intuitively understands that in order to maximize momentum transfer, he HAS to create this perpendicular relationship between the spine angle and the rotational plane of the shoulder line.

AND he intuitively understands that the lead arm HAS to be well aligned to the shoulder line.

ALL of the above can be understood via Nyman's lead arm swing plane model [and his model is based on the basic physics compound pendulum model].

From a kinesiological perspective, I have described Griffey's movements [et al] as ...."sit and turn" wherein Griffey [et al] variously create hip flexion [which changes the spine angle] as they stride ...which is then "blended" into rotation, i.e., rotation INTO foot plant.

From my perspective, ALL of the above is a MUCH better explanation as regards the "underlying realities" [a Nyman quote] as regards what Griffey [and others] are ACTUALLY doing. And WHY they do what they do.

And I dare say that I do sell [on my website --see the "sit and turn" section] specific details as to how to better learn how to create movement that conforms to this sit and turn capability.

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