What Causes the Hips to Rotate in a HL Swing?

[bobbyb]

To throw in another perspective on the front side…reactive front leg.

Hip extension and front leg extension go together…sports specialist have identified different patterns of hip extension. The desired pattern being Glutes fire first ..then hams ..then contralateral quadratus lumborum muscles (opposite side low back). This is across many sports.

If you relate that to hitting and the front leg and hip extension….
If glutes fire first…leg ‘gets’ extended…the feel is more of reactive front leg extension.
If hams fire first…leg ‘pushes’ to extend and straighten the front leg first.

While there are components of both…the sequence is key. I do believe some girls need to feel the leg push back while learning to activate the glutes first.

But these pro’s are glute dominate.

Test if you can feel the difference. Get on one leg..knee slightly bent…hip hinged. Push into ground…using leg….to straighten leg.

Then do again and firing glutes first..hip extension (posterior pelvic rotation) as you straighten leg.

Feel the difference? If the hips are working correctly and glutes fire first..thats the feeling of a reactive front leg as the hip extends imo.

This is also a test to see if a player fires glutes first or hams/legs. Most of the girls just push the leg and their pelvis never moves…”never rotates posteriorly” (little to no glute activation) or rotates it very late during the leg straightening. A glute dominate athlete will get the posterior pelvic rotation started at the beginning of the leg straightening because she is using a glute firing first pattern. JMO..OMV

 

[Bobby Shirer]

To throw in another perspective on the front side…reactive front leg.

Hip extension and front leg extension go together…sports specialist have identified different patterns of hip extension. The desired pattern being Glutes fire first ..then hams ..then contralateral quadratus lumborum muscles (opposite side low back). This is across many sports.

If you relate that to hitting and the front leg and hip extension….
If glutes fire first…leg ‘gets’ extended…the feel is more of reactive front leg extension.
If hams fire first…leg ‘pushes’ to extend and straighten the front leg first.

While there are components of both…the sequence is key. I do believe some girls need to feel the leg push back while learning to activate the glutes first.

But these pro’s are glute dominate.

Test if you can feel the difference. Get on one leg..knee slightly bent…hip hinged. Push into ground…using leg….to straighten leg.

Then do again and firing glutes first..hip extension (posterior pelvic rotation) as you straighten leg.

Feel the difference? If the hips are working correctly and glutes fire first..thats the feeling of a reactive front leg as the hip extends imo.

This is also a test to see if a player fires glutes first or hams/legs. Most of the girls just push the leg and their pelvis never moves…”never rotates posteriorly” (little to no glute activation) or rotates it very late during the leg straightening. A glute dominate athlete will get the posterior pelvic rotation started at the beginning of the leg straightening because she is using a glute firing first pattern. JMO..OMV

Would this exercise help?

 

[bobbyb]

Would this exercise help?

With that weight...for her! May hurt me!

Yes a weighted glute bridge done correctly... will definitely work the glutes!

 

[RichK]

Some pretty good one-leggedness insights over at TM Twitter today: https://twitter.com/Teacherman1986

It starts with this post:

And he goes at it for about 20 posts on his timeline. Take it how you will. There's a lot to think about if you're curious. I'm not going to debate it but check it out if interested.

 

[rdbass]

Some pretty good one-leggedness insights

I agree.......
and......

Take it how you will.

I agree.....
Good luck with any one that agrees with Bobby........

 

[Bobby Shirer]

With that weight...for her! May hurt me!

Yes a weighted glute bridge done correctly... will definitely work the glutes!

440 lbs!

 

[Bobby Shirer]

I agree.......
and......

I agree.....
Good luck with any one that agrees with Bobby........

My theory is based on acute observation and sound reason. No magic and no stubbornness. I'm open to questioning . I can't appreciate anyone who dismisses my opinion out of hand or submits objection based on conventional reasoning.

I say, question everything!
Make those who propose a method justify their perspective and substantiate everything based in physics and biomechanics. Otherwise they're really just wasting your time, stuck in old conventional wisdom much like those in 1491 who thought the world was flat and didn't have the ability to look at something with open eyes without preconceived ideas.
I appreciate anyone who's interested in a soundly reasoned approach and is open to a different understanding....those who are open to experiment because the old methods leave things unexplained or just plain don't work.

Finally, the original question was posed.... "what causes the hips to turn in a high level swing?" Mostly what has been explained here by others doesn't differentiate an average swing from a high level swing. I'm proposing a movement that is different from the conventional approach and merely suggesting it be tried.
It would be interesting to have someone....... anyone say...."I tried it and the results weren't better!" or , "can you clarify a thing or two?"
Instead, what I've seen here is a few know-it-alls who would do their best to hold others back, rather than risk having gotten it wrong.
It's a shame.

 

[Bobby Shirer]

Some pretty good one-leggedness insights over at TM Twitter today: https://twitter.com/Teacherman1986

It starts with this post:

And he goes at it for about 20 posts on his timeline. Take it how you will. There's a lot to think about if you're curious. I'm not going to debate it but check it out if interested.

And yet all the big hitters lift their back foot when they hit. Makes you wonder, are they're all doing it wrong? Maybe they should lift their front foot instead?
It would be nice to see where the ball went and the velocity.
Lots of external rotation of the rear leg too.
Absolutely no "back leg drive." That back knee doesn't move forward at all.
Notice how the front hip moves rearward.
I'll bet he could hit harder if he could drive that front hip rearward with some real force!

 

[Work=wins]

And yet all the big hitters lift their back foot when they hit. Makes you wonder, are they're all doing it wrong? Maybe they should lift their front foot instead?
It would be nice to see where the ball went and the velocity.
Lots of external rotation of the rear leg too.
Absolutely no "back leg drive." That back knee doesn't move forward at all.
Notice how the front hip moves rearward.
I'll bet he could hit harder if he could drive that front hip rearward with some real force!

I can’t say I disagree. But I will say I think both legs are used to leverage the swing. I think the shift powers the swing. But the core dictates the shift.

As for the original question in this thread. I believe the core creates hip rotation.

I don’t think your that far off Bobby.

PS I liked your kids swing, from what I could see. I teach something similar.

 

[Bobby Shirer]

I can’t say I disagree. But I will say I think both legs are used to leverage the swing. I think the shift powers the swing. But the core dictates the shift.

As for the original question in this thread. I believe the core creates hip rotation.

I don’t think your that far off Bobby.

PS I liked your kids swing, from what I could see. I teach something similar.

That back leg move is like a shortstop going in the hole and making the throw to first with a mid air jump. It can be done but if you could plant and get momentum and weight transfer to the front side it would be more desirable and more powerful. The movements are correct and Teacherman is onto something as a drill to promote correct movements. Certainly he doesn't espouse hitting while standing on your back leg.
Is anybody here promoting a "jump throw" type of swing just because it's possible?