Scap loading

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Dec 4, 2013
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I've never heard of the term scap circling. Please explain.

I think that using the word scap load would imply that you then eventually unload it. I don't think that is what necessarily happens in the swing. During the circling process the pressure I feel in the scap moves from the top of the scap down the spine. The pinched scap circles....Like RD said I think that Sosa gif shows scap circling and how the missing frames are created......I'm sure what I explained is worded much prettier somewhere else!
 
Last edited:
Jan 6, 2009
6,627
113
Chehalis, Wa
NelsonCruz_Side_2014_zpsg1f6caef.gif

Here is a scap that starts "pinched" in the setup. What do you think about the term scap circling?

This is similar to the Pujols clip I posted in the other thread. I will post it over here as well. In the mean time, hitters do load the scap earlier then what Sosa is showing. I have a good clip of Arod that I can't show because of copyrights. Does this mean there is scapula loading? According Rdbass there is no such thing as scapula loading. There is such a thing as scapula rythm. The scapula is the connection between the body/thorax/torso and the shoulders/arms. The scapula is very important important to the transfer of energy from the torso to the shoulders/arms. It is the proximal link to the more distal shoulders/arms.

Here is the clip,
giphy.gif
 
May 3, 2014
2,149
83
Hey Shawn, Spartans and Bass have already described pretty well. My thoughts are the same. The scap pulls back into the spine using the back muscles (not shoulder or arm created). This takes the arms out the equation. Some hitters start pre pinched and some do it as they move out. Either way - this action is loading the rear leg. The rear hip pulls around the rear leg, the lower back and scap. This all happens to continually load the rear leg. The rear leg gets loaded by wanting to resist this rearward pressure. Jryan had a really nice video showing how continually pulling back around the rear leg actually gets you forward because the rear leg will react that way if the pull backs are correct and never release.

The key piece to all of this not letting the scap/lower back/rear hip release it's "force" of pulling around the rear leg. The scap pressure drives down the length of the spine as the rear leg starts turn everything forward. What is hard to see and equally hard to get the feeling for is that the torso tilts via the rear hip joint as the scap pressure drives down the spine. This essentially creates the shoulder tilt and allows the shoulders to be bypassed.

So, I wouldn't describe it as scap loading either. If the scap unloads you push and use the arms and lose the ability to really use the bigger muscles without max effort of trying to use the bigger muscles. The swing is over in a snap. Players that start to feel this are amazed at the quickness and you can hear the difference off the bat as they really compress the ball.

Here is one of my hitters figuring out how to use her back to pull the scap into the spine. IMO - if you get the scap right the ability to use the lower back correctly is significantly increased. Watch how her lower back reacts when she engages the scap. Not only are the letters moving but watch the "22" at the bottom of the numbers.

sMcXFh.gif
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
Hey Shawn, Spartans and Bass have already described pretty well. My thoughts are the same. The scap pulls back into the spine using the back muscles (not shoulder or arm created). This takes the arms out the equation. Some hitters start pre pinched and some do it as they move out. Either way - this action is loading the rear leg. The rear hip pulls around the rear leg, the lower back and scap. This all happens to continually load the rear leg. The rear leg gets loaded by wanting to resist this rearward pressure. Jryan had a really nice video showing how continually pulling back around the rear leg actually gets you forward because the rear leg will react that way if the pull backs are correct and never release.

The key piece to all of this not letting the scap/lower back/rear hip release it's "force" of pulling around the rear leg. The scap pressure drives down the length of the spine as the rear leg starts turn everything forward. What is hard to see and equally hard to get the feeling for is that the torso tilts via the rear hip joint as the scap pressure drives down the spine. This essentially creates the shoulder tilt and allows the shoulders to be bypassed.

So, I wouldn't describe it as scap loading either. If the scap unloads you push and use the arms and lose the ability to really use the bigger muscles without max effort of trying to use the bigger muscles. The swing is over in a snap. Players that start to feel this are amazed at the quickness and you can hear the difference off the bat as they really compress the ball.

Here is one of my hitters figuring out how to use her back to pull the scap into the spine. IMO - if you get the scap right the ability to use the lower back correctly is significantly increased. Watch how her lower back reacts when she engages the scap. Not only are the letters moving but watch the "22" at the bottom of the numbers.

sMcXFh.gif

Great post....
The rear hip pulls around the rear leg, the lower back and scap. This all happens to continually load the rear leg. The rear leg gets loaded by wanting to resist this rearwarured press
I'm just add onto this great post with something that might help...or not.
resist this rearward press
That resistance is the rear leg trying to turn internally (internal rotation) while the hips are turning the opposite direction. The foot feels ER(external rotation/clock wise rotation) against the ground. Feels like 'wringing a rag'.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,054
0
Portland, OR
The sequence is important.

Hitters need to learn how to use their core and learn how to 'separate' their core from their shoulders. Learn to turn/twist the lower-core without turning the shoulders. It is during this action that a hitter, with an appropriate placed feel-sensor, will feel an increase in ‘scap pressure’.
 

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