The Shoulder Blades

How does one eat an elephant? “One Bite At A Time!” Let’s try to keep this topic and information as simple as possible. This material is not for me to learn but for you to own!

Let us assume initially that we are fully and properly ‘Set-Up’ using ‘The 5 Ingredients to their fullest efficiency? We have ‘Chin Tallness’ (vertical spinal extension – separation between Hip Sockets and Sternum. We have adequate ‘Forward Inclination’ as well as enough or ideal ‘Aft Tilt’. (see ‘On Path and On Plane’)(see ‘Spinal or Crankshaft vs. Rods & Piston Stability’)

Properly Set-Up , our Shoulder Axis is in proper relationship to the Spinal Column. (see ‘The Balsa Airplane Concept’) This primary axis can now perform as a properly disciplined ‘Tether Ball Pole Ball and Rope’ whereby the Shoulders and Lever Assemblies act substantially at 90 degrees to the Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebral Segments. We are presented with a couple Thoracic or Cervical choices. The Shoulders can be Dropped or extended Down, Out & Forward or they can be elevated thus becoming more ‘Back & Up. (see ‘Flexed or Extended’) 

Your ‘555 Team’ has a useful ‘Bullet-Proof Skill Drill’. It is called ‘Cracking Walnuts’. Imagine that you have a walnut attached to your shirt back right between your two ‘Internal Scapular Margins’. (Medial Edges Closest To The Spine) When your Lever Assemblies (Upper Body Machine) are extended, your Scapular Blades are moved apart … the space has increased. When your ‘Hands, Wrists, Forearms, Elbows, Upper Arms and Shoulder Sockets are ‘Pulled Up or Shortened’, your Scapula get closer together and can pinch and ‘Crack The Walnut’.

In this ‘Pulled-Up Configuration or Physical State’, we are very ‘Connected to the Upper Spinal Column’. When we are pushed Down & Out, Extended, we are slightly less firmly connected. If we start our ‘Back & Up Swing’ with the Scaps and Shoulder Socket or Assemblies retracted, they will naturally get more dynamically extended in the ‘Pre-Impact and Separation Zones … in the Strike Zone. There is an inherent ‘Fat – Thin’ tendency that should be avoided. One may ‘Set-Up with the Ball Location slightly ‘On The Toe’. (see ‘Tinker Time’) During the Kinetic Phase, ‘Less Movement Is Better Than More!’