Hello Steve,

The section that you are referring to is on page 19-21 in Race Walk Clinic - in
a Book, and while the diagrams might make it seem that there is a lot of "drop",
in fact, the goal is to limit the drop as much as possible. We are just showing
you what the hip does, and although it is a big diagram, it is actually a very
small "drop".

It is impossible to limit all of the drop because as the swing leg comes forward
the hip is more relaxed and it does drop slightly. The more side to side or up
and down movement you have, the less eficient you will become. You want to
think about the hips moving forward and you want to work on the flexibility of
the hip flexors so that the rear foot will be able to stay on the ground longer.
If the hips have excessive hip "drop" we do give you some exercises to correct
this and other hip issues in Chapter 6.

If you look at the picture of Denis Nizhegorodov on page 19, you will see superb
hip flexor flexibility. The reason that we chose that picture was because you
can see the rear foot on the ground very far behind the body and you can see the
opposite hip is still coming forward.

You should not think about the hip dropping at all, only moving forward. The
hip will drop slightly naturally.

Tim
www.racewalkclinic.com






--- In racewalking@yahoogroups.com, "Steve Patat" <spatat@...> 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
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>