I don't believe just focusing on the "sequence" is the whole answer. To put it into perspective here is a picture of a 24 oz bottle of coke...
Are you saying that a "girl" can't throw a 24 oz bottle of coke with both hands unless the sequence is correct without her arms flattening out?
There has to be some conscious effort to have a good hand path. It isn't just stretch and coil.
I never once said that the "sequence" is the whole answer. Not once. As a coach, parent and occasional instructor, I have a responsibility to understand cause and effect and not change proper movements.
I said I like how the young lady in the clip flattens her hands. I see some external rotation of the rear upper arm at swing initiation, which I like. I know from doing thousands of swings myself, that when I get the back arm action correct, my front arm automatically responds. I also know from experimentation that a focus on lead arm drills can potentially result in a swing where the lead arm pulls. Which almost always results in a gate type swing. I spent five years teaching my daughter to keep her front elbow up; lead with the front elbow. No matter what I did, I could not get rid of her bat drag. At least not without sacrificing her separation and having her swing turn into a gate swing. Eighteen months ago I dumped all my front arm cues, in favor of teaching connection with a focus on what I believe to be proper rear upper arm action during the slotting of the rear elbow.
I came to this conclusion after reading these passages from Epstein:
"(If the rear elbow doesn't tuck down-and-in when the swing launches, the back arm will pre-extend outward, resulting in a "casting" motion."
"No matter where the hitter places his rear elbow in his stance, it must "slot" (tuck "down and in" against his ribcage) at the launch position. The underlying reasons are (1) to allow the lead elbow to work up and help reposition the hitter’s body-tilt rearward so the plane of the swing can match the plane of the pitch, and (2) so the hitter can stay inside the ball. Both of these movements, coupled with the hitter’s torque position, comprise the "universal" technique of the vast majority of baseball’s best and most productive hitters."
"The correct definition of staying inside the ball is "the hands follow the rotating body around its axis." For this to occur, the back elbow—on the swing approach—must already be "slotted" down and in against the hitter’s ribcage. It makes no difference where his hands are positioned in his stance: his pre-swing movements will reposition his hands as he strides to the "universal launch position" (the top of the top hand aligned approximately with the bottom of the armpit). Slotting the elbow correctly enables the hitter to stay "connected" when he starts his swing. If he isn’t connected at this point, it will be very difficult—if not impossible—for him to stay inside the ball."
"The kinetic link works in conjunction with the hands staying inside the ball, which means the hands and bat remain close to the body during the sequential transfer of energy. For this to occur, the rear elbow must tuck in on the approach. The hand path stays circular as the hips begin to decelerate and the upper torso receives its maximum energy-transfer. "Extension" occurs as the swing nears the appropriate contact zone, which is normally dependent on pitch location. In other words, a hitter’s hands and arms must stay "connected" to his body until extending through contact."
"If the rear elbow doesn’t tuck in, and pre-extends early in the swing, the hitter is predisposed to hit around the ball. Period. He’s doomed at the outset. Tucking in the rear elbow significantly shortens the swing, allowing the player to be more compact and quicker to the ball."
"Tuck: Refers to the "slotting" of the rear elbow that is executed at swing launch. If the hitter’s rear elbow does not tuck down and in or slot correctly—at the precise time—the hitter will not be able to stay "inside" the ball, and will "cast" their hands, which reduces bat speed and power."
"To properly stay inside the ball, the hitter must tuck their rear elbow in and down against their rib cage."
"The hitter’s rear elbow must slot close to, or rub against, their body. If the swing does not launch with the rear elbow in this position, it will not be possible for the hitter to stay inside the ball."
Epstein also refers to the top hand as the power source and the bottom hand as the swing guide.
Williams refers to the top hand as the power source.
Bonds talks about the top hand.
Pujols describes the swing as a two handed throw.
Slaught talks about the swing in terms of a throw; as in turning a double play or skipping a rock.
Based on the above information I concluded that my focus needed to be on the backside and not the front side. Others are free to disagree. Plus, everytime I see a clip of a fastpitch hitter that has what I consider to be exhibiting "forced" connection; the result is always a gate swing.
Regarding the coke bottle; I have no idea what would happen. The girls I work with swing bats not coke bottles. You do realize that the moment of inertia for a 24oz coke bottle is different than a 30, 31, 32 inch bat, right
