Thread by @SteveEnglishbey

I want to expand on the prior thread on Alvarez by using his game winning home run clip using 2 looks. One is at the start and one comes at about .31/32 [and do set it to .25 to really see better]:

I'll start with the set-up. Note he sets up by turning the ENTIRE body posture slightly inwardly. This should NOT be confused with a counter-rotation wherein there is axial rotation around the spine [think of a golf kind of loading action]. He is NOT loading in this manner.

This somewhat inward turning of the entire body is quite similar to Ken Griffey and Manny Ramirez [to cite 2 well known hitters].

Now, let's go to the start of the load --wherein the lead leg starts to lift. Note the slight lift of the back elbow as this process starts--it lifts slightly above the shoulder line.

Note in this beginning process the alignment of the lead arm---the upper lead arm is touching the chin [it's relatively "up" ---relative to many lower level hitters].

Also note the head at set-up, then look at it's downward movement by foot plant [I'll return to this shortly].

Now, note the movement of the back elbow from leg lift to toe touch. Note that it drops--such that we can no longer see it. [This is consistent with what "slay" described recently as regards Schwarber's back arm action].

Also note the linkage of movement of the downward movement of the back arm with the LEAD side oblique region starting rotate as the lead heel starts to go into foot plant.

I cite the oblique region [the old Astros colors moving] as opposed to the hip region to denote that the oblique muscles are attached to the pelvic bone---thus these muscles certainly can and do facilitate pelvic rotation.

Now, to return to the head movement ---note as the head moves downwardly, the lead knee FLEXES more [see foot plant]. BOTH actions are a function of HIP flexion. Actions I refer to as a function of "sitting."

Simply put [and I have talked about this before]hip flexion helps create a very good swing plane ,i.e., "the hips are the bottom of the swing plane" [my quote].

Now, to focus on the lead arm. As I stated above, it starts relatively "up" and STAYS UP [above the letters] on this middle out/somewhat low swing.

Simply put, this well aligned/stable lead arm is VERY consistent with the "Iron Byron"/compound pendulum golf machine [I've written about this and you can look it up].

Now, let's go to .31/32. Note how the upper lead arm stays up and "tight" to and above the pectoralis region.

Note also---and this is a VERY important point---how "deep" the contact point is as regards the hands/knob.
They are BEHIND the lead knee and across from the lead hip joint!!

DAMN!!! I thought you needed to hit the ball "out in front" with......"full extension" to hit a ball really well.

Yea....well...NO!!!!

Contrary to popular belief [going back at least 20 yrs. and unfortunately continues to this day], the ONLY way you can create THIS kind of deep contact point AND hit a ball 400 plus ft. is to....

....keep the upper lead arm tight to the chest and above the letters----in combination with creating a spine angle that aligns essentially perpendicular to the lead arm/shoulder line.

In combination with very good trunk rotation. Combinations which conform to the basic compound pendulum model that is THE model which best describes how momentum is best optimized from body to bat [or club].

As I have described above, I think Alvarez certainly displays postures/movements that conform to this model!

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