i realize that ur hips and upper body need to be at 45-52 degrees at wrist snap, per a 1996 study at the atlanta olympics, and also per the michele smith and right view pro dvd's, which cited that study. this is to minimize shoulder injury, and allow for maximum power at release. it may also be to allow the arm to pass freely by the hips. i am not sure about this latter point.
however, i notice many elite pitchers, such as michele smith, open their upper bodies, but not necessarily their hips, to 90 degrees, during their explosion off the mound, so that their shoulder plane is parallel to the line of force (power line). iow, both shoulders point in a straight line to the catcher. this opening to 90 degrees occurs somewhere around noon on the arm circle. then when their stride foot lands, they are in a position to resist and begin to close their upper bodies to 45-52 degrees, just in time for wrist snap. At this point, once the ball has been released, their upper bodies may continue closing , perhaps all the way to 0 degrees, or they may just close a little bit. [note: their legs usually remain at the 45-52 degree angle while closing, both before and after wrist snap.]
my question is, is this really necessary to open up all the way to 90 degrees, only to have to close to 45-52 degrees? why not just open to 45-52 degrees to begin with? is it possible that opening all the way to 90 degrees is actually necessary in order to be able to transition efficiently from upswing to downswing? iow, u cant really get past noon if you don't open. but do you need to go all the way to 90 degrees, and if not, then why do some pitchers do this?
however, i notice many elite pitchers, such as michele smith, open their upper bodies, but not necessarily their hips, to 90 degrees, during their explosion off the mound, so that their shoulder plane is parallel to the line of force (power line). iow, both shoulders point in a straight line to the catcher. this opening to 90 degrees occurs somewhere around noon on the arm circle. then when their stride foot lands, they are in a position to resist and begin to close their upper bodies to 45-52 degrees, just in time for wrist snap. At this point, once the ball has been released, their upper bodies may continue closing , perhaps all the way to 0 degrees, or they may just close a little bit. [note: their legs usually remain at the 45-52 degree angle while closing, both before and after wrist snap.]
my question is, is this really necessary to open up all the way to 90 degrees, only to have to close to 45-52 degrees? why not just open to 45-52 degrees to begin with? is it possible that opening all the way to 90 degrees is actually necessary in order to be able to transition efficiently from upswing to downswing? iow, u cant really get past noon if you don't open. but do you need to go all the way to 90 degrees, and if not, then why do some pitchers do this?