I just saw a med ball drive wherein the stated goal was that of helping the player to find their "natural" loading pattern. Here's the fundamental problem with this goal: Based on over 20 years of working with athletes of all aptitudes I will say this:
The great majority's so called "natural" movement patterns [whether loading or unloading] are NOT remotely in the category of optimum in the specific context of the specific sport they are training for.
What is "natural" for most is simply a product of movement that was initially easy to accomplish, or that "feels right" in their early on foray into whatever sport they are involved in.
And all too many times these early on movement and kinesthetic experiences become "attractive" in various ways, and as such they become quickly ingrained into the athlete's psycho-physical experience.
Furthermore, in the context of swinging as bat, it is my conclusion that it is a human norm to try to use the arms to try to swing the bat [to see this in action early on go look at tee-ball hitters and how they rehearse by using the arms only to move the bat].
Using the arms to swing the bat is........"natural."
Conversely, elite level hitters have figured out how to do .....the "unnatural thing." They effectively utilize the entire body to create what I refer to [simply] as GOOD ALIGNMENT and GOOD ROTATION to move the bat.
Conversely, elite level hitters have figured out how to do .....the "unnatural thing." They effectively utilize the entire body to create what I refer to [simply] as GOOD ALIGNMENT and GOOD ROTATION to move the bat.
And knowing this, they load the body in ways that helps to facilitate good bat/body alignment and good rotation. And again, I will point out that most hitter's "natural" ways of loading do NOT facilitate good alignment and good rotation.
