"Best of Max Speaks Out on the internet "....Over the past two years Max has expressed his views on hitting and pitching training and mechanics. Many of these address fundamental issues that are key to maximizing your baseball abilities. Max Ratofor, BS, MS, Physiokinetist, Web Pilot and SETPRO consultant gives his "straight from the hip" views and opinions on today's training issues. You can send your questions and comments to maxrfd@ntplx.net |
| The following is Max's response to a Dick Mill's follower who believes the hips do not rotate
until foot plant and is confused by a post from Barry Zito that says a pitcher needs to
strive to get his hips rotated as much as possible while keeping his shoulders closed.
Dear Steve, Barry Zito you are a breath of fresh air to a web site that is becoming more and more of single mind and thought. Any competent video analysis will show that all hard throwing pitchers achieve maximum hip velocity before shoulder rotation. Steve, if you have to ask this question, you really don’t understand what’s happening. At foot plant, the arm is moving through the high cock position. This means the shoulders are starting their rotation. In order to generate hip to shoulder "torso torque", the hips are rotating BEFORE foot plant. This is consistent with the "kinetic chain" (whip effect) principle. I tried (unsuccessfully) to explain this to you months ago. All of the work you are doing to keep your sons hips closed at foot plant is potentially dooming him to never reach the maximum velocity he is genetically capable of. As to Nolan Ryan. Tell me if this statement is true or false: "As long as a pitcher maintains synchronization between arm an body, he can flail, long arm and what ever else azzuming he is comfortable in what he is doing". If your answer is false, explain why. Nolan shortened his arm action as the years progressed. But how can you say with any confidence that this was the reason for his longevity. Was Nolan out of sync for all those years before he changed. Maybe it had something to do with the weight training making his arm stronger, therefore he needed less distance to bring his arm through and still achieve he same velocity (this would lend itself to achieving better control). What about the weight training for his lower and UPPER body? In his book, Ryan credits this more than anything else for his longevity. How people can draw such specific an far reaching conclusions from a sample of one is beyond me. I am sure I will suffer the fate of Steve and Steve R and others who have tried to raise the level of this web site from its current level of hero worship and adulation and this post will last a very short time before it is removed (reminds me of those who burned the books in the late 1930’s). Max PS This "bad word" censor is a joke. It is consistent with the mentality of this site. Next "Best of Max" Back to Best of Max Index |