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VLAD’S SWING SEQUENCE ILLUSTRATED

May 17, 2022

HINGE

HINGE (PELVIS LOAD) AT PITCHER’S HAND BREAK. Each side by side frame is synched up to each other- one view from CF behind the pitcher (on the left) and the other from the open view. Vlad starts his “pelvis loading”/hinging as soon as the pitcher lifts his stride leg and is about to break his hands. He will continue to maintain and increase the tension in his pelvis as long as possible in anticipation of greater forces coming during rotation.

Each hitter decides when to start the pelvis load – starting early gives him plenty of time to start his “hinge” and also substantially integrate his spine before the ball is even released. Having a consistent and early starting point is essential. HINGE EARLY, COIL LATE.

With pelvis load, it is tempo and sequencing. Building sequential energy via the load of the pelvis and the integration of the spine is key. Vlad does not sway, does not pause, does not lose tension, nor is he off-balance nor overcompensating with his shoulders.

The pelvis is at his body’s center and is the CONNECTION between his lower body and spine. The pelvis gives orientation to his spine, a.k.a. POSTURE. The relationship between the pelvic girdle and the alignment of his spine is critical, and he starts to integrate early via how he loads his pelvis. This relationship incorporates a coordinated, sequenced movement in all three planes of motion: sagittal, frontal & transverse.

FORWARD BY COILING – MOVE THE MIDDLE

MOVE THE MIDDLE. COIL. AT PITCHER’S RELEASE. STAY INTO YOUR BACK HIP. FEEL THE REAR GLUTE ACTIVATING.

After activating his pelvis by hinging, then he “coils” and starts to “move his middle” or shift his center of mass as the pitcher is releasing the pitch. He is not leaning backwards with his torso/upper body nor is he letting his head move forward either. His spine a.k.a. posture stays stable. It’s not about his legs being the primary movers. It is PROXIMAL TO DISTAL. The coiling of his pelvis and pushing with his “butt” is what gets him into his legs.

CULTIVATING ELASTICITY

CULTIVATING ELASTICITY. He is applying force from both sides of his spine (force couple) to create elasticity that precedes true rotational forces.

Notice that Vlad has cultivated elasticity by using all 3 planes of motion. His pelvis and spine are hinged in the sagittal plane. By “pushing with his butt” and using his gluteus, there is movement of his pelvis in the frontal plane. His abdominal obliques are regulating any frontal plane torso “bend”. Notice his front leg, more specifically his acetabular femur socket (on the left) which is creating “coil” of his pelvis in the transverse plane. Lastly, see the “force couple” of his torso in the transverse plane between his latissimus dorsi and its contralateral connection to his gluteus maximus and thoracic spinous.

ALIGNMENT

AT TOE TOUCH. ALIGNMENT OF BARREL WITH HIS LEAD ARM & SPINE/SHOULDER GIRDLE.

Good hitters know how to maintain proper posture and how to create axial rotation which directly affects swing plane and barrel path. Alignment of the barrel and lead arm is also known as getting on plane with the incoming pitch. The idea is to align the barrel, the lead arm, the shoulder girdle and spine before rotation and swing “launch” begins.

After Vlad has effectively loaded, coiled and rotated his pelvis into toe touch, the pelvis now stabilizes and immobilizes and is not going to move in an excessive linear or posterior nor anterior direction, IOW, he will not thrust his pelvis forward nor try to engage in excessive spinal extension. (See below) Axial rotation is around a stable spinal axis.

AXIAL ROTATION

CONTACT. SWING. AXIAL ROTATION VIA FORCE COUPLE.

Vlad is accessing his spiral/spring/sling system. He is unwinding it while maintaining his posture. His head remains stable. Tremendous power created and transferred in a flash.

PURSUE EXCELLENCE & WIN THIS PITCH!


About the Author

Mike Lotief coached 17 successful years as either the head softball coach or co-head softball coach with his wife Stefni Whitton Lotief at the University of Louisiana from 2002-2017 with an overall coaching record of 731-176 (80.6 winning percentage). Every season, the Ragin Cajuns softball team advanced to the NCAA tournament and also advanced to three (3) Women’s College World Series (2003, 2008, 2014) and from 2012-2016 advanced to five (5) straight NCAA Super Regionals. Coach Lotief produced over 40 All American selections and his 2017 team lead the nation in scoring and was ranked in the Top 10 in home runs, slugging percentage, on base percentage.

The coach is a cancer survivor (twice) and was the first person in the U.S. to receive the Pro Trach device. Mike and Stefni spearheaded and raised the funding to build the new softball stadium in 2009 and the new softball indoor hitting facility in 2015. They are proud parents to Chelsea, who played softball and graduated from the Univ. of Louisiana in 2018, and Andrew, who is a junior at Louisiana studying Mechanical Engineering.

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