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The Mechanics of Swing
by Gerald S. George, Ph.D.
  
October 25, 2010
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The Mechanics of Swing


Dr. George
Dr. George

Everyone likes to swing. Those who train for excellence love it.


Those who border the lunatic fringe of exacting execution live it...


And that's the simple truth!

 

F

rom a mechanical standpoint, swing is essentially a form of rotary or angular motion. It can be defined as circular movement of an object about an axial line in a fashion such that all parts of the object travel through the same angle, in the same direction, in the same amount of time. This line, often referred to as the "axis of rotation," always lies at a right angle to the object's plane of motion.

 

The human anatomy, with its numerous joints and segments, can be thought of as an articulated system of swinging levers that circle about one another in a properly coordinated sequence to produce a desired movement. To qualify as swing, the movement need not necessarily be complex. Any joint of motion of one body segment about another can be considered an elementary form of swing.

Notice in this illustration how the shoulder joint serves as the axis of rotation for swinging the arm above the head. Because this type of rotary motion occurs within the physical limits of the body, it is called "internal swing."

Internal Swing

Internal swing at the shoulder joint.

(Illustration by James H. Stephenson in "Championship Gymnastics.")

 

In the performance of many skills on the uneven bars, the gymnast often undergoes a different form of swing. It is different in that the axis of rotation lies outside rather than within the body's physical limits. As shown in the next figure, the upper rail serves as the axis of rotation for a Backward Hip Circle to Handstand. Whenever the entire body unit is attached to and circles about a fixed axis, the realized movement is called "external swing."


External Swing

The relationship between internal and external swing

in executing a Backward Hip Circle to Handstand on the uneven bars.

(Illustration by James H. Stephenson in "Championship Gymnastics.")

It is both interesting and important to understand the close relationship between these two fundamental types of swing. In the hip circle, for example, observe how the internal rotary motions-first of the trunk about the shoulder joints, and then of the legs about the hip joints-serve to control, guide and regulate the extent of total body motion, or external swing, about the bar. The timely interplay of these rotary motions, together with use of the bar's inherent elasticity, determines the quality of this and, in fact, all swing-oriented skills. In this light, it would be wise to consider carefully how to take maximum advantage of internal-swing mechanics.

 

The mechanics of internal swing

serve as the catalyst for

maximizing external swing.


Continued on pages 68-85 in Championship Gymnastics: Biomechanical Techniques for Shaping Winners.

 
I enjoyed speaking at the Ontario, Canada Gymnastics Federation earlier this month along with Greg Marsden of the University of Utah Gymnastics.

We are setting up my speaking schedule for 2011 at this time. If you would like to check my availability for speaking to your group, contact me directly via email at [email protected]. The topics are listed on the Seminar page of my website:
http://winninggymnastics.com/seminars.php

Best wishes and thanks to all of you for your continued support!


Gerald S. George, Ph.D.

WinningGymnastics.com

888-796-5229 (Toll-free in U.S.)
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