Unlock the secret swing moves of the greatest power hitters using “ATTRACTORS”

The body has 230 joints and 630 muscles. From a movement perspective, the capacity that everyone has for differing movement patterns is VAST.

According to the “DEGREES OF FREEDOM PROBLEM”, there are multiple ways for humans to perform a movement in order to achieve the same goal; no simple one to-one correspondence exists between a task and a motor solution to the problem. 

According to Nicholas Bernstein, “it is clear that the basic difficulties for co-ordination consist precisely in the extreme abundance of degrees of freedom, with which the nervous system is not in a position to deal”.  

The body is inherently created to self-organize and figure out the best movement forms and patterns to “survive”.

That’s where the concept of “swing attractors” comes into play. Swing Attractors help solve the degrees of freedom problem by:

1. coordinating the different phases of the swing;

2. solving the timing challenges under extreme timing constraints; and

3. generating a powerful swing with accuracy. 

“Swing attractors” are:

1. the glue of each core movement;

2. the linkage between the different core movements and swing segments that allow the swing to flow together as its best functional unit;

3. movements that the top hitters perform. If missing, it negatively impacts the performance;

4. applied in multiple situations and across different sports.  

To be a swing attractor, the movement has to be: 

ESSENTIAL

FIXED

STABLE

ROBUST (resistant to perturbations)

RESILIENT (more resistant to failure, breakdown & injury).

Great hitters have been “attracted” to loading the pelvis to generate power. Across different skills, athletes have been “attracted” to pelvis loading to generate power. “Attractors” keep showing up in all elite movement patterns. Certain postures in certain skills express POWER. 

Nolan Ryan & Babe Ruth loading their pelvis and integrating their spines to generate power 

The hitting concepts that Swing Attractors has identified and focus on in training and motion analysis are:

1. Loading/unloading the pelvis via contralateral hip activity;

2. stabilized shoulders and segmented spine;

3. postural alignment;

4. transfer mechanics and how to slingshot the barrel; and

5. getting behind the baseball at contact via axial rotation. 

Swing Attractors can be measured using the motion capture data and high speed video:

-  The goal of good motion analysis is to make small adjustments that result in measurable effects.

-  Swing Attractors objective is to make the smallest adjustment or simplest intervention possible that will have the greatest impact or make the most difference in the overall movement pattern.

-  What intervention will attract the best motor synergy?

-  It may be: “don’t do that” or introducing one of hitting devices to give the hitter a FEEL without any explanation or a bunch of complicated words.

-  Instead of talking mechanics, stay focused on movement patterns & “reality based” FEELS.

-  The goal is to turn a hitter’s inefficiency or detractor into an ATTRACTOR.

Conclusion

Hitting is the most difficult and unique skills in movement because of the time constraints. In order for the hitter to attain proficiency and consistency, Swing Attractors provides the roadmap. 

Visit www.swingattractors.com for detailed discussions into these hitting concepts. 

About the author

Mike Lotief with Tim Hyers, Hitting Coach of Texas Rangers during batting practice in 2023 when the Rangers won the WORLD SERIES

-  Mike Lotief is C.E.O./President of Swing Attractors.

-  Swing Attractors created a biomechanics software/user-friendly dashboard to help coaches maximize the data being collected.

-  Lotief graduated from L.S.U. Law School; practiced law in Louisiana.

-  He volunteered to coach recreational football, baseball, softball, basketball for 27 years.

-  Coach Mike coached 17 successful years in college softball with an overall record of 731-176 (80.6 winning %).

-  Coach Mike was part of 40 conference & NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS. He developed 25 All Americans; is inducted into the La. A.S.A. Hall of Fame.

-  Lotief invented & made hundreds of hitting devices; been through the patent process.

-  The coach is a 40 year cancer survivor (twice),endured massive radiation treatment to his throat & neck; first person in the U.S. to receive a Pro Trach breathing/speaking device; awarded the Perseverance Award by his peers in 2016 after undergoing a tracheotomy & still coached his team to a conference championship & finals of NCAA Super Regionals.

-  Lotief is married to Stefni Whitton Lotief (first All American in U.L.’s history); proud parents of Chelsea & Andrew. 

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Website: https://swingattractors.com/