Steve,

Don't create a hip drop!!!! It takes us years to retrain those who have
exaggerated hip drop to minimize it. There is no advantage to having hip
drop...since the hip that "drops" in single support phase (standing on
just one leg) is the unsupported hip which is supposed to be rotating
forward and bringing the unsupported leg with it, and the more that hip
drops the higher one has to lift the unsupported leg to get the foot to
swing through with the leg. Hence more drop equals more knee bend and
less rotation of hip girdle around the spine (so called "hip
rotation"). It is the "hip rotation" that allows us to gain inches per
stride over having no rotation at all (like so many, many racewalkers).
Hip drop is anathema (highly accursed). The sway that Jeff mentions
occurs when in the single support phase ever so slightly with or without
hip drop....when it occurs with hip drop id is often exaggerated and is
doubly cursed...it serves no useful purpose in that case and tends to
direct muscular energy in the wrong direction (sideways).

Tom

Steve Patat wrote:
> I am still trying to understand hip drop. When I make my stride I do get a
> feel that I am getting hip rotation(back and forward movement). I am not
> sure my stride is longer in the rear. I get no feel for the hips moving up
> and down.(Sometimes I get a feeling they move out. I try to keep that at a
> minimum.) So I do not think I have any hip drop. I am reading Jeff's new
> book which has a very detailed description of how the hips should move. I am
> just not sure why the hip drops. Could someone take a shot and explain why
> the hip should drop? Should it be a noticeable movement and is it something
> that should come as a natural movement or should I try to create the drop?
> Also, is it something I should be concerned about? Again, I thank all for
> your help. Steve
>
>
>
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