@clemenslee1 you might be disconnecting the hands from the torso early making it hard to create/feel the core stretch. I’m just guessing. But it’s a possibility.
Of course you don't really feel this in a game swingThe stretch is horizontal as well as vertical. It depends on pitch location as well as approach/timing. Starting closed helps get to EROM earlier. But has its drawbacks as well.
Edit: if you take your hands back against or down and back against (a la Barry Bonds or Mike Trout, UFAs) your back knee you will feel a core stretch backwards. Once the pelvis advances you will feel more stretch. Once the front foot gets down you will feel more stretch. And once the back knee starts to ‘turn’ you will have completed all four corners of the torso stretch.
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Of course you don't really feel this in a game swing