Chapter5 ~The Mechanics of Puncher Type ~
The existing consensus on hitting mechanics is based on the swinger type's mechanics, and there seems almost no study mentioning the puncher type's mechanics. So I want to write on the latter first. As I wrote in the FAQ in chapter4, one of the most frequently asked questions is, "Does't puncher-type mechanics mean an upper-half dominated mechanics?" So I first of all must answer this question.
(1) Dodgeball Experiment
See figure1. I ordered him to throw the dodgeball at the maximum power directly from the frame1. As a result, the stride and separation occurred automatically as his lower half generated the power unconsciously and automatically just before the upper half did.
figure1
(2) APA (Anticipatory Postural Adjustment)
The phenomenon of the lower half generating power unconsciously in above experiment can be explained by a scientifically defined term, APA. Here is the results of searching it in Google. Then, see figure2.
figure2
Figure2 is an experiment for APA. When the subject tries to raise the arm quickly and suddenly, the lower half and core muscles generate power just before the arm's muscles do. More specifically, the hamstrings and erector spinae muscles contract just before the deltoid muscles do.
(3) Another Experiment for APA
Then, I introduce another experiment for APA to understand it in a more hitting-like condition. See movie1 and figure3.
figure3
In this experiment, I threw a punch with my both arms right in front of me from the static position as quickly as I could. As a result, my lower half generated power by the system of APA just before my hands started to move forward, which led my whole body to move forward slightly, leaving both elbows behind the body trunk ーseparation took place automatically (frame2 in figure3). Thanks to this system, you can throw a punch strongly without any preparative motion. Through this experiment, you should be able to infer how APA works in hitting mechanics.
(4) The Application of APA to Hitting Mechanics
Finally, let me explain how APA works in puncher-type's hitting mechanics. See movie2 and figure4.
figure4 (Yellow line is for watching the weight transfer)
In this experiment, I gave a command to the subject like this; "Try to swing directly from the position at which your weight is on the rear leg (frame2), and don't make a separation intentionally because it occurs automatically."
As a result, separation occurred automatically (frame3) in the weight transfer due to APA, which allowed the subject to use whole-body power effectively.
Through this experiment, you will be able to understand that weight transfer, stride, and separation occur automatically when you try to swing directly from the frame2 in figure4.
To sum it up, you can duplicate A-Rod's swing when you try to swing directly from the white frame in figure5. Although many instructors will teach you to make a separation before you swing, it actually means they teach you only swinger-type mechanics that, to put it bluntly, is now obsolete.
Figure5
The existing consensus on hitting mechanics is based on the swinger type's mechanics, and there seems almost no study mentioning the puncher type's mechanics. So I want to write on the latter first. As I wrote in the FAQ in chapter4, one of the most frequently asked questions is, "Does't puncher-type mechanics mean an upper-half dominated mechanics?" So I first of all must answer this question.
(1) Dodgeball Experiment
See figure1. I ordered him to throw the dodgeball at the maximum power directly from the frame1. As a result, the stride and separation occurred automatically as his lower half generated the power unconsciously and automatically just before the upper half did.
figure1
(2) APA (Anticipatory Postural Adjustment)
The phenomenon of the lower half generating power unconsciously in above experiment can be explained by a scientifically defined term, APA. Here is the results of searching it in Google. Then, see figure2.
figure2
Figure2 is an experiment for APA. When the subject tries to raise the arm quickly and suddenly, the lower half and core muscles generate power just before the arm's muscles do. More specifically, the hamstrings and erector spinae muscles contract just before the deltoid muscles do.
(3) Another Experiment for APA
Then, I introduce another experiment for APA to understand it in a more hitting-like condition. See movie1 and figure3.
figure3
In this experiment, I threw a punch with my both arms right in front of me from the static position as quickly as I could. As a result, my lower half generated power by the system of APA just before my hands started to move forward, which led my whole body to move forward slightly, leaving both elbows behind the body trunk ーseparation took place automatically (frame2 in figure3). Thanks to this system, you can throw a punch strongly without any preparative motion. Through this experiment, you should be able to infer how APA works in hitting mechanics.
(4) The Application of APA to Hitting Mechanics
Finally, let me explain how APA works in puncher-type's hitting mechanics. See movie2 and figure4.
figure4 (Yellow line is for watching the weight transfer)
In this experiment, I gave a command to the subject like this; "Try to swing directly from the position at which your weight is on the rear leg (frame2), and don't make a separation intentionally because it occurs automatically."
As a result, separation occurred automatically (frame3) in the weight transfer due to APA, which allowed the subject to use whole-body power effectively.
Through this experiment, you will be able to understand that weight transfer, stride, and separation occur automatically when you try to swing directly from the frame2 in figure4.
To sum it up, you can duplicate A-Rod's swing when you try to swing directly from the white frame in figure5. Although many instructors will teach you to make a separation before you swing, it actually means they teach you only swinger-type mechanics that, to put it bluntly, is now obsolete.
Figure5
