The follow-through

[chakka35]

This is a question I have been asking for many years of both scientists and sportspeople. I have not yet had an answer which makes sense.  Perhaps one of you can help:

Apart from making a stroke look elegant what purpose is served by the much-vaunted follow-through in sport? What possible effect can the post-impact behaviour of bat, racket or club have on a ball which is, by then, a long way away?  I will repeat this question in the Sport section.

[kempie]

I suppose that if some of your focus is on stopping the swing then you lose some focus on hitting the ball, or something to that effect.

Not a very elegant reply, I know!

[magicdice]

something air resistance related? then again, i never did get sport...

[Loosehead]

The follow through is what creates the power in the shot, if you play to "Hit through" the ball then much more power is generated. The follow through is not having an effect after the contact it is what generates the force of the contact and hence the effect. Try and kick a ball without following through and it will not go very far. It's often referred to as timing, ie balancing the follow through with the reaction of the object, ie in ball games, the ball.

[chakka35]

I don't think so, Kempie. Stopping the swing is what comes naturally after the hit, unless you have a coach screaming at you to "Follow through! Follow through!". It needs no special attention.And a bit vague, magicdice.

Loosehead is interesting and may be onto something but I'll answer him/her in the Science section because I think football is irrelevant and others have brought  up kicking there.

Anyway, thanks to all.

[kempie]

I didn't explain my hypothesis too well did I?

Here's an analogy;

Suppose you were to punch a wall but 'pulled' the punch immediately on contact (or rather when you pre-emptively thought contact would be made) and compare this to the pain you would feel if you just continued to punch 'through' the wall. Which do you think would hurt more?

If you are focussing on stopping the punch/stroke/swing I tend to think that it will be decelerating at the time of impact.

[Sligachan14]

Mostly its to ensure that the club, racquet, foot etc. is accelerating into the shot to impart power and also to keep club, racquet, foot etc. on the intended line of the shot for as long as possible to ensure the intended spin is correctly imparted.

[chakka35]

But, Kempie, I am not talking about withholding one's shot or putting any artificial brake on it. My subject is the totally artificial extension of the natural momentum of the striking object into a subsequent arc over the shoulder which would not have taken place naturally and which one has to learn.  What effect can that post-impact behaviour have on a ball which has gone by then?

Sligachan 14, you are talking about the time of impact and I am sure that everything you say is true. But I am talking about that post-impact time when the ball is a long way away.  Thanks anyway.

[MargeB]

The post shot action will have an effect. Given the speed of the shot, you have to mentally plan the elements of the shot and command the sequence, which then automatically occurs, for it to work right. You can try to 'penetrate' the action mentally, either by forcing direct mental control over it, to act it out, or to force it short (which is what a 'truncated' golf swing is).

Now, it has recently been proven (in the last two years), that attempts to mentally 'control' what could be 'automated' motor actions will disrupt the shot. A classic example is the golf swing.

[landie]

It's the natural conclusion when one strikes 'through' the ball, i.e. as if trying to hit a point behind the object ball.

If one attempts to diminish the stroke after contact there is a danger that the stroke or kick would be adversely affected. Consequently the effort must be maintained as far as the body and balance allow, hence the follow through.

[RipedForskin]

ur all wrong this poor chaka35 has a bowel problem, go and see your doc mate I hear Imodium is what u need.