Jemanji,
You are the man. We just did a forum on Nick Franklin on Englishbeyhitting.com. He is one of the top hitting instructors on the planet. I started the topic because I have been studying his video all summer.
What did I find?
Great posture which leads to a great swing plane
Great back arm flexion and extrended wrist that helps him get on plane quicker
He knows how to stretch his muscles to the fullest. (AIKI)
If you look at his video from behind, you will see a subtle twisting of his lead hip against a closed front side with an anchored back leg. (Show the back pocket to the pitcher) This will create pulling forces that will help you load and unlaod the swing the swing. (Albert Pujols has a subtle (forward by turning) in his swing) Also, Vladimire Guerro has this in his swing. The reason his swing is so good is because he has a great alignment of his anatomy with the bat being perpendicular to the spine.
Bottom line is that he knows how to use his anatomy.
What makes a great hitter
Posture
Connection of bat to body
Rotation-which most kids do not work at...Arm swingers
Stretching the lead arm
Back arm flexion with an extended lead wrist
Load the rear scapula
Load the front side ..... aiki
One move loading and lowering the center of gravity. (Nick Frankllin) He is essentially doing five things in his swing. He is going east, west, north and south and lowering his center of gravity.
Jon
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=== Nick Franklin Frame 1, Ready Position ===
These photos are just random screen grabs from his swings in the 2010 MWL homer derby, around the 0:39 mark.
it ain't like we cherry-picked the best we could find; these are the first we found. The pic quality isn't great; the live video is going to get the point across much better. Two windows, gentlemen.
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Pic 1 shows Franklin's ready position. No big deal here, but note the following items:
- Hands beautifully shoulder-high and in fact imperceptibly "connected" with his shoulder plane
- Kinetic energy loaded calmly and explosively in the back leg (front leg unweighted)
- Lead arm already comfortably under torsion
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=== Nick Franklin Frame 2, Launch Position ===
Frame 2 makes you want to cry.
Keep in mind, that the MAIN thing that a hitter wants to do, as the pitch is being released, is to (1) push his hands back and (2) step forward to the pitcher.
g)
But these are debatable -- see batspeed.com if you want actual debates -- and the real dynamic here is, are the muscles in Franklin's body being stretched almost to the point of pain?
Here, to get the idea of just how splendiferous Franklin's motion is, do these four things.
(1) Look at Rickey's ready position.
(2) Remember that Rickey was AWEsome, and that as a small man, he hit 20 
homers per year from ages 25-34.
(3) Stand up and do this bat-launch splay position -- lead hand wayyyyy back, front foot wayyyyy forward -- (A) with Rickey's bent back knee and super low CG, and then (B) with Franklin's "pike" straight knee and high CG. See the difference in torsion?
(4) Review the video of Franklin's swing to get a sense of Franklin's rubber-band dynamic.
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Comments
For me to even say hello to in the 15 seconds before I run out the door.
With your permission we'll mosh off it in a point-by-point later on. :cpoints:
Good thoughts gentlemen. You can have the body or a Wilson or Franklin and with proper technique and physics, hit a ball a long way. I enjoyed the articles and comments. Should be fun rehashing and then watching some of these youngsters prove their swings in real time!
Good thoughts gentlemen. You can have the body or a Wilson or Franklin and with proper technique and physics, hit a ball a long way. I enjoyed the articles and comments. Should be fun rehashing and then watching some of these youngsters prove their swings in real time!
Just some of the comments from post.
Franklin reminds some of Olerud
Note the first move of loading is to turn in the lead knee in slightly (golf)....which creates a suble eccentric twist of the hips...while the shoulders stay square to the plate.
and this is done WITHOUT"loading back" ie back leg does not move/body mass does not go back.
From this posture, the shift is a function of the body mass falling forward (the trunk) falling forward not much different than walking.
and the fall turns into blended rotation ...the hips,the trunk shoulders and the wrists from having an extended back wrist which will lead to extension and finish...which he does well
He makes the one move look easy with smoothness and flow. This type of coordination has developed over time...EFFECTIVE PRACTICE...Look at how quiet his upper body is as he strides out.....
This kind of inaction faciltiates being able to consistently repeat the unloading of the bat.
Look at Ricky...
Posture...tilted...unweighting of the body...allows rotation to happen and set the swing plane...
Stretched lead arm AIKI
Back arm flexion with extended wrist...
Ready to unload the TORSO...a large part of the anatomy on a firm front side...
I have learned everything that I have said from Englishbeyhitting.com... I love studying and teaching hitting and I believe Nick Franklin is on the rise and the program P3 that they are using is helping Franklin, Ackley and Seager and will continue to help them improve...Kids do not learn how to rotate the body. My son is 10 and has been doing this since he was 8...We are constantly working on rotation. If you want to learn how to hit, take the bat away and learn how to effectively use the body....Nick Franklin...
John
E-mail...JHart218@nycap.rr.com