This is a 9-part series ... the click-through links are bottom right.
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=== Reference Points ===
In order to zero Nick Franklin’s swing dynamics, let’s put them against the backdrop of two other great hitters. We poked around a bit trying to find photos of lousy hitters :- ) at precisely the launch point, but they’re a little harder to find and hey, we’ve got our 23-post quota to fill. :pinkfloyd get on with it:
If you can find a convenient photo of a mortal hitter at launch point, let me know. It will only increase your appreciation for the Franklin pics below.
We’ll start with a look at a great women’s fastpitch hitter, and then take a glance at David Wright. Let's consider a few key checkpoints, and more importantly, the dynamics to those of Nick Franklin.
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=== Jessica Mendoza ===
One hitting analyst does a nice job breaking down Jessica Mendoza's swing. He does it per a set of 15-20 classical swing checkpoints, specified in the article.
Now we are not trivializing these static swing checkpoints, because they're useful ... but I don't think they mean much next to a dynamic aiki approach that assesses torsion, wrist hinge, acceleration and other dynamics.
If you do want a website that blends classical "wireframe" checkpoints, with aiki-style dynamics, batspeed.com is awesome. Still not totally aiki :- ) and some of their stuff is opinion-based, but it's the best baseball-swing site I've seen that isn't in fact a golf-swing site. ;- )
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And we are certainly not trivializing female athletes. Bill Russell will tell anybody who listens, "if you want to watch great basketball, watch women's basketball." I absolutely agree with that. LPGA golfers are in some cases more technically perfect than PGA guys.
Female hitters and golfers do it without strength, like Ichiro does, like Morehei Ueshiba did at age 80. SSI has nothing but respect for great athletes who use leverage rather than strength.
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Examine Mendoza's launch position above, which gives us an idea of how little torsion she generates compared to Nick Franklin. Granted, fastpitch softball players have less time. And we don't want to take anything away from the excellent "hitter's box" she's created in her shoulders and arms. But you see the difference between no-torsion and extreme torsion in the two images.
The "stretch" between her front foot (illustrating the actual issue, the front hip flexor), and her right hand, is the concept here.
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=== David Wright ===
David Wright's launch position is also instructive. Wright is stretching it perfectly. He's one of the best hitters there is, and a very powerful one.
But you be da judge. Compare Franklin’s torque to even Wright's, pound-for-pound.
We’re not saying that Franklin, at 19, is a better baseball player than an ML franchise player. We’re just putting into perspective, what a natural swing this kid has. In terms of pure natural mechanics, Franklin reminds of a smaller Junior, or Jason Heyward, or a Dustin Ackley.
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