How Many Degrees Are Needed?

[Teacherman]

How many degrees does Manny use?



Looking at his barrel....it travels more than 180 degrees to contact. But not everyone launches from max tip.
Looking at his shoulders....they travel more than 90 degrees....to contact. ( but not independently)
Looking at the stripe on his rear leg....it travels more than 90 degrees....to contact.

My point is this....

The leg drives the resisting shoulders. Stretch is developed so that as the leg drives the shoulders resist....they stay back....closed. Where are his shoulders at launch? Where do they end up? I'm using his shoulders as a checkpoint not an engine. They travel a distance of more than 90 degrees. To launch an effective swing....you need that kind of range of motion. But not for energy creation....that happens instantly....as the stretch is broken. YOU NEED IT FOR DIRECTION.

If you are not positioned correctly at launch....you will get turned forward....out front....too early. The SnF unload will turn you 'out front' very quickly. The quick sudden turn is excellent. But....if you're too open with the upper half you'll get turned forward to much too soon and your arms will have to push the barrel to keep it in the contact zone.

You must load/stretch/setup so that your launch of more than 90 degrees....results in deep contact. How....coil properly, and pull back properly such that you get into a 'closed lead shoulder' position. Hold it as much as you can even as the leg starts to win. This will keep you back and allow the 'barrel turn launch' to remain deep and through the zone instead of out front.

[Teacherman]

This kid is closed like he should be.

But for the wrong reason.

His closure is necessary to provide distance over which he can apply a forward pushing force. He needs a lot of distance because there is nothing sudden about his launch. ZERO SnF. Closure gives him direction....but also distance over which to push the barrel. When you push the barrel forward you need more distance/time to get it up to speed. So his barrel speed ends up WAY out front.

[Teacherman]

Attacking Oppo should be done daily by everyone.

You can't attack oppo with a lead shoulder that pulls open or turns open to soon.

[Teacherman]

Counter rotation of the shoulders is a 'dirty' word in hitting forums. Bat wrap is another. Critics complain about 'how far' the barrel must travel to get to contact. They say hitters don't have that much time. (Even when clips of Manny, Bonds, Pujols, AGon, Ortiz, Brett etc etc are shown to them)

There is no counter rotation of the shoulders....or bat wrap....even when the appearance is there....when the pivot points are the hands AND the rear hip socket. Two engines....pivoting the barrel simultaneously....is what they don't understand. TWO engines....hand pivot point....and rear hip pivot point....BOTH....turning the barrel....with stretch between them....actually makes the swing quicker.....and keeps it deep.

You must learn to understand this clip. Don't let the slow motion fool you.

[Al Oha]

How many degrees does Manny use?



Looking at his barrel....it travels more than 180 degrees to contact. But not everyone launches from max tip.
Looking at his shoulders....they travel more than 90 degrees....to contact. ( but not independently)
Looking at the stripe on his rear leg....it travels more than 90 degrees....to contact.

My point is this....

The leg drives the resisting shoulders. Stretch is developed so that as the leg drives the shoulders resist....they stay back....closed. Where are his shoulders at launch? Where do they end up? I'm using his shoulders as a checkpoint not an engine. They travel a distance of more than 90 degrees. To launch an effective swing....you need that kind of range of motion. But not for energy creation....that happens instantly....as the stretch is broken. YOU NEED IT FOR DIRECTION.

If you are not positioned correctly at launch....you will get turned forward....out front....too early. The SnF unload will turn you 'out front' very quickly. The quick sudden turn is excellent. But....if you're too open with the upper half you'll get turned forward to much too soon and your arms will have to push the barrel to keep it in the contact zone.

You must load/stretch/setup so that your launch of more than 90 degrees....results in deep contact. How....coil properly, and pull back properly such that you get into a 'closed lead shoulder' position. Hold it as much as you can even as the leg starts to win. This will keep you back and allow the 'barrel turn launch' to remain deep and through the zone instead of out front.

Very much agree with the strong observations here, Teach.

Now look at this clip: Using the same criteria in shoulder resistance against the leg drive, what do you see?

One of the hardest hit balls this kid has ever produced...