[Jeff]

Yoda - you wrote-: "Wow, Jeff, we sure do skip rocks differently. I skipped about a million of'em into the Rhine River as a kid, and I always stepped left before I made the skip. Never once did my right arm start forward before my left foot hit the ground. For sure, I felt the pull ("adduction" in your lingo) of my right arm, but that was because my stepping left leg was doing the pulling! "

I fully understand your stone skipping action. I can understand why you believe that your "stepping left leg was doing the pulling." Your stepping left leg allowed your lower torso to start the throw action with a lower body rotary movement that torques the entire torso. The entire torso unwinds and pulls the right arm into action - like a baseball pitcher throwing a fast ball.

I use a different stone skipping action. I pre-place the lead leg in a forward position so that it can accept the weight transfer that will occur secondary to the initiation of the right hand throw. I then focus my mind on my right hand in preparation for the throw action. I then start the throw action with a definite "feeling" of adducting the right arm and pulling the right elbow down to the right hip area. However, before I can even move my right arm I unconscioulsy transfer weight to the lead leg so that the lower torso can move targetwards and form a base of support for my spiralling upper torso and thrusting right arm. I don't use the lower torso to pull my upper torso and right upper limb into the throw action. I move the lower torso laterally towards the target so that it can continue to effectively support my right arm throw action and rotating upper torso as a bracing support structure.

Your pivot action will result in a more powerful throw, but my action (with a primary focus on the right hand) may produce a more accurate throw.

You wrote-: "The same thing happens in a golf swing. I cannot believe that any intelligent person would think -- much less teach -- that the motion originates any other way."

I thought that HK didn't rigidly dictate how the golf swing should evolve. I thought that he was more focused on delineating all the options. For example, I have decided to describe my "reactive pivot action" in a separate thread. Don't you think that HK would have found my approach acceptable as an alternative approach that is suitable for golfers with a different set of biomechanical strengths and limitations?

Jeff.