Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

To add some context to my following comments, I would suggest looking at some of my ending comments about motor learning theories in my most recent threadreader post.

https://twitter.com/GowagsKyle/status/1476747112167747587

Let me say at the outset that I am no novice to books on motor learning/motor control THEORIES [my emphasis because I want to denote that MUCH of the research is simply that ----theory---as opposed to well established physics views on how things work, so to speak].

[Yes I do realize that various aspects of quantum mechanics has muddied the waters, so to speak, but for now I'll simply assert that Newtonian physics is more grounded relative to motor learning theories].

I will further add that I actually have [and have read] the book cited above [as well as bks. by Kelso, Turvey, Latash,Davids, Thelen, etc., et al].

And let me hasten to add that much of my interest in said subject matter was initiated by Paul Nyman as he shifted from an emphasis from biomechanics to motor learning/motor control.

Now, haven given this context, the main reason I write here is to question the basic premise [or premises ] of the quote above. IN THE SPECIFIC CONTEXT OF SWINGING A BAT. And learning how to swing a bat really effectively.

I'm not at all clear as to how the quote really applies to the context of developing a high level swing.

First is the notion of "freezing" the "non-essential body parts."

This only begs the question of: "What are the non-essential body parts"? And beyond that one has to ask: How does the novice go about determining as to what is...."non-essential."

So, how does the novice "choose" as to what is "non-essential" and thus what does he decide to "freeze?"

Now, one could argue that, for the novice, the rational choice as regards what is MOST "essential" is to do what is the simplest and most necessary kind of goal which is that of......JUST hitting the ball.

Based on long experience, I highly suspect that for the novice, this IS the MAIN goal. I would further add that, for the novice trying to learn a new skill, they will try to associate that new skill with an OLD skill.

The OLD skill is that of ....REACHING, i.e., they have become pretty expert at manipulating their arms to reach a target.

And in THIS context of applying an OLD skill to a new skill of hitting a ball, this will translate into ...manipulating the arms to hit the target.

This can be readily witnessed via watching tee ballers "scribe" out a path to the ball .....JUST with the arms.

NONE of what I just stated has anything remotely to do with ......"freezing" body parts.

Best I can tell, there is no "freezing" of so-called "non-essential body parts. In fact, it is VERY typical of the novice to utilize, in certain typical ways, the body mass to ACCOMODATE the arms as they scribe out a path to the ball.

The very typical more proximal movement pattern that best serves the goal of using the arms to JUST hit the ball is some version of ...."hip slide" [lateral translation] of the hips.

To cite a dynamical systems concept, the combined arm action [bat drag/"leading" with the back elbow] "coupled" with hip slide, creates THE typical "coordinative structure" that almost all young hitters start with.

It's a pattern that is so typical of young hitters that I have seen and worked over the yrs. such that I have deemed it as the "slot/shift" pattern. [As opposed to the elite level pattern I labeled as "sit and turn"].

[In brief, the "sit/turn" model is based on the compound pendulum model wherein the angular motion of hips, shoulders, wrists coordinate to maximize momentum transfer].

Bottom line and as regards the specific context of hitting development, NONE of what the above quote from the good prof. relates to what I refer to as having "explanatory power."

Meaning that in no manner does the quote really capture the underlying realities that guides most young hitters.

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