External rotation: Lateral rotation Biomechanics The act of turning about an axis passing through the center of the leg; ER of the leg occurs with closed chain supination; the talus acts as an extension of the leg in frontal and transverse planes.
Rotation: The process of turning around an axis. In obstetrics, the turning of the fetal head (or presenting part) for proper orientation to the pelvic axis.
Bat Lag:
Flexion: The bending of a joint between two skeletal members to decrease the angle between the members; opposite of extension.
Extension: The movement of a limb to increase the angle of the joint. Some joints (at the wrist, in the neck) are able to hyperextend.
Force: The energy or power; that which originates or arrests motion.
Ground Reaction Force: Refers generically to any force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it.
Center of Pressure: Is the point on a body where the total sum of a pressure field acts, causing a force and no momentum about that point.
Center of Mass: Is the mean location of all the mass in a system. In the case of a rigid body, the position of the center of mass is fixed in relation to the body.
Momentum: Is the product of the mass and velocity of an object (p = mv).
Dynamic Balance: The ability to maintain and distribute balance evenly (refers to your stance).
Absorption of Force: The ability to absorb that force in a short amount of time (or impulse) is important in being elastic and loading the tendon for increase power output. If the athlete does not possess the strength to absorb the force in a short impulse time then they may have to flex deeper into the movement, thus increasing the risk of poor compensation patterns and injury.
Axis of Trunk: Sagittal motion.
Sagittal Plane: Is a vertical plane which passes from front to rear dividing the body into right and left sections.
Median Plane or Mid-Sagittal Plane: Sometimes used to describe the sagittal plane running through the midline. This plane cuts the body into halves (assuming bilateral symmetry),[1] passing through midline structures such as the navel and spine. It is one of the lines defining the right upper quadrant of the human abdomen.
Exertion: Is a concept describing the use of physical or perceived energy. It normally connotates a strenuous or costly effort related to physical, muscular, philosophical actions and work.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Break Down of a Baseball Swing
Many movements are involved in the proper technique of a baseball swing. Ground reaction force is the interaction of the body and the ground. As we all know a very important step in the baseball swing, it applies the force, distance, and location of where the ball will go on the field. Each individual foot will result in a different magnitude of force applied; a person’s body weight percentage also plays a major part in a person’s force of swinging. The more weight that is exerted on the feet the greater amount of force. The center of pressure or center of mass also plays a role of the force of a person’s swing. The relative movement of the center of pressure between the 2 feet and the body’s center of mass will result in dynamic balance which gives the batter their forward momentum. Flexion and extension of the left and right knee as well as the left and right elbows have to form the correct angle to get proper direction and absorption of force on our joints; should be about 90* at flexion to about 180* at extension. To properly utilize all of the above a batter also needs to remember you gain more bat speed by the proper rotation and interaction of the hips, shoulders, and arms. They rotate around a common axis of the trunk; hips rotate, shoulder rotate, then the arms and wrists. Next the batter should focus on “bat lag” which is the absolute angle formed between the bat from the handle to the barrel and from the mid-shoulders to the mid-wrists. When the bat is fully extended away from the arms and everything is in line the angle of your arms/wrists; the bat should be about 180*. Everything combined above in a step by step procedure, the swing is initiated with a weight shift toward the right (back leg), at about the same time, the upper body rotates in a clockwise direction around the axis of the trunk, initiated by the arms and shoulders, followed closely by the hips. Even though all this is broken down into steps when put together and implemented in a game/practice setting these steps will go will be done almost simultaneously they are just broken down for purposes of improving techniques or teaching new players.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
blog update part 2
The drill I chose which is in the prior post will help improve arm and shoulder rotation, by creating a greater ROM. The repetetition will allow the muscles to learn the movements so they react quicker, this will also help wig flexibility.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Practice Drills
http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafMg-R.html
To view video click on link. This video I picked because it is a very fundamental type of swinging that is used with a baseball tee. I feel like no matter what age, everyone needs to work on the basics, whether they are a novice or expert. The stationary ball allows for you to focus on your form rather than focusing on the ball. Working on the basic techniques at least 3 times a week on top of regular practice will help improve your baseball swing and help you acheive an expert level. If you are already at an expert level it does not hurt you to practice your swing with a tee. Even though it may seem pointless you will see improvement in your form when added to your regular practice. To make this practice more challanging practice with the tee then move to a batting cage without the tee to see whether the stationary ball helped with your form and swing.
To view video click on link. This video I picked because it is a very fundamental type of swinging that is used with a baseball tee. I feel like no matter what age, everyone needs to work on the basics, whether they are a novice or expert. The stationary ball allows for you to focus on your form rather than focusing on the ball. Working on the basic techniques at least 3 times a week on top of regular practice will help improve your baseball swing and help you acheive an expert level. If you are already at an expert level it does not hurt you to practice your swing with a tee. Even though it may seem pointless you will see improvement in your form when added to your regular practice. To make this practice more challanging practice with the tee then move to a batting cage without the tee to see whether the stationary ball helped with your form and swing.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The Stance
GRIP: The most common grip in use, both by kids and adults, is the choke grip, which lines up the top set of knuckles on one hand with the middle set of knuckles on the other hand. The choke grip also forces you to hold the bat more in the palms of the hand than in the fingers. The choke grip limits the range of motion of the wrists.
POSITION AT PLATE: Young hitters need a good anchor point to make sure they don’t stand too close to or far from the plate, and that they stand at a consistent spot from pitch to pitch.
LOWER BODY: The feet should be about a bit wider than shoulder-width apart and aligned in a square stance.
UPPER BODY: The upper body should be bent forward slightly from the waist – if your upper body is too upright, it will force you to reach for the ball by sweeping your bat out too early when you swing.
HEAD: The hitter’s front shoulder should be slightly closed (turned away from the pitcher) and his head should be turned so that his chin is almost touching his front shoulder. The eyes should be level and both eyes should be on the pitcher.
**RELAXED AND BALANCED: The key to a good stance is to be relaxed and well balanced.
POSITION AT PLATE: Young hitters need a good anchor point to make sure they don’t stand too close to or far from the plate, and that they stand at a consistent spot from pitch to pitch.
LOWER BODY: The feet should be about a bit wider than shoulder-width apart and aligned in a square stance.
UPPER BODY: The upper body should be bent forward slightly from the waist – if your upper body is too upright, it will force you to reach for the ball by sweeping your bat out too early when you swing.
HEAD: The hitter’s front shoulder should be slightly closed (turned away from the pitcher) and his head should be turned so that his chin is almost touching his front shoulder. The eyes should be level and both eyes should be on the pitcher.
**RELAXED AND BALANCED: The key to a good stance is to be relaxed and well balanced.
The Step
BACKWARD LOAD: As the pitcher goes into his leg kick, slightly rotate your front side (shoulder, hip, and knee) to a more closed position, away from the pitcher. As you rotate, slightly lift the heel of your front foot so only the big toe is in contact with the ground.
LAUNCH: As the pitcher releases the ball, stride forward on a direct line toward the pitcher. Do not step toward 3rd base or 1st base. Do not turn your toe toward the pitcher; leave it pointed toward home plate. Turning your foot will cause your hips and shoulders to open too early.
LAUNCH: As the pitcher releases the ball, stride forward on a direct line toward the pitcher. Do not step toward 3rd base or 1st base. Do not turn your toe toward the pitcher; leave it pointed toward home plate. Turning your foot will cause your hips and shoulders to open too early.
Swing to Connect
The hitter is in the launch position.
The hitter initiates the swing by pulling the knob of the bat directly at the ball with the hands.
As the back elbow passes near the back hip, the lower body should start to come around the back foot starts to roll over onto the big toe and the back knee starts to turn toward the front knee. At this point, the hitter’s lower body is following the upper body. When the hands get about even with the hitter’s belly button, the hitter need to explode open (swing).
At contact, the back thigh should be vertical and the upper body should be aligned directly over the back thigh. The front leg should be straight and angled out in front of the hitter. The back foot should have rotated around toward the pitcher and should have rolled up onto the point of the toe with the heel high.
The hitter initiates the swing by pulling the knob of the bat directly at the ball with the hands.
As the back elbow passes near the back hip, the lower body should start to come around the back foot starts to roll over onto the big toe and the back knee starts to turn toward the front knee. At this point, the hitter’s lower body is following the upper body. When the hands get about even with the hitter’s belly button, the hitter need to explode open (swing).
At contact, the back thigh should be vertical and the upper body should be aligned directly over the back thigh. The front leg should be straight and angled out in front of the hitter. The back foot should have rotated around toward the pitcher and should have rolled up onto the point of the toe with the heel high.
The Follow Through
Extend and Point: After hitting the ball, continue your swing until both arms are fully extended and pointing at the pitcher.
Roll and Wrap: After you have extended both arms, roll your wrists over and continue to hold onto the bat with both hands until your back shoulder rotates completely around to the front and touches your chin.
Roll and Wrap: After you have extended both arms, roll your wrists over and continue to hold onto the bat with both hands until your back shoulder rotates completely around to the front and touches your chin.
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