Demonstration On How To Take “Slack” Out Of The System (and what it means)…
Here’s a great way to help coaches and players understand taking slack out of the system, demonstrating the power of the spinal engine.
We call it the “coiling” core, NOT the “braced” core most teach their hitters. A braced core is fantastic in the weight room, but NOT in the batter’s box. CLICK HERE for an interview I did with Bosu Ball
inventor David Weck, where he takes a deeper dive into this.
Some understand the importance of shoulder-hip separation, but what most don’t know is that we MUST create tension in the neck – where the ‘C’ and ‘T’ sections of the spine connect, as well.
And here’s what most ARE NOT saying…an inward turn of the hips is not important, if not detrimental, to the beach towel effect of the spinal engine.
Many say the swing of Ted Williams resembled the twisting of a Barber Pole. The above video clearly demonstrates what was happening in his swing that some observed. CLICK HERE for a post I did on the swing of Ted Williams.
Joey Myers
I’ve spent 11+ years in the corrective fitness industry, and have too many alphabet-soup certifications to bore you with.I also played four years of Division One baseball at Fresno State from 2000-2003.
It’s NOT how you study, but what you study that counts.I apply human movement principles (or rules), validated by science, to hitting a baseball and softball.
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Joey,
Ted Williams’ front side pelvis turned in toward the catcher. It didn’t stay neutral. The arrows in the diagrams. on pages 40 and 47 in THE SCIENCE OF HITTING show the front side pelvis turning in. Not saying that is advisable but, that’s what he did and showed in his book.
I agree Joe, but this is where I think Ted Williams didn’t have all the information…an inward turn of the hips is not important, if not detrimental to the beach towel effect of the spinal engine. It’s the tension and compression forces we’re looking for. Turning the pelvis in towards the catcher (as Williams stated), you’re putting slack in the system. We have to get the head and pelvis twisting in the same direction, while the shoulders twist opposite.
Joey,
I agree. Not saying that Ted Williams was right, as funny as that sounds. How could “the greatest hitter who ever lived” be wrong? Almost sounds blasphemous. Yet he had a great down-and-in front shoulder “counter-movement” which was his term. It was similar to that of Barry Bonds. The pelvis is neutral in that movement.
Absolutely. He was definitely ahead of his time…he had the ability to translate “feel” into “real” – as much as a player can.
Yet, there was so much he didn’t grasp besides that turning of the front side pelvis inward. He didn’t have a pronounced heel drop a la Albert Pujols. And that arm bar! Still he was Ted Williams and did his analysis without video let alone an app on his phone.
Absolutely Joe!