Can someone explain 4 barrel hitting to me?
 

Is it just swinging with some some right arm thrust?

Or is it hitting and adding pivot?

I don't want book references either as i don't own one....so please explain in layman's terms :)

It's Hitting with pivot thrust. Basically adding a right shoulder turn thrust at startdown, then blasting off with the right arm.

There is a whole bundle about 4 barrel hitting in a thread named "Shoulder Drive?" Maybe you can find some assimalable info there.

Charlie

Four-Barrelled Hitting In A Nutshell
 

From the Top, the big muscles of the Pivot Train -- the Feet, Knees, Hips and Shoulders -- take up the initial inertia of the Club, i.e., they Load the Clubhead Lag. The last of these Pivot Components -- the Right Shoulder -- then acts as a 'backstop' (the 'equal and opposite' reaction) for the Right Elbow and its simultaneous drive of the Left Arm, the Left Wrist and the Left Hand through Impact.

hmm....ok, so how does 3 barrel differ? What AREN'T you doing in that one?

The Empty Barrel
 

In the Three-Barrel Hit, the Right Triceps alone loads the Clubhead Lag during the Start Down. The 4th Barrel -- the Right Shoulder supplying the initial Acceleration of the Left Arm and Club -- is not operative.

Instead, the Right Shoulder serves only as the Launching Pad for the Acceleration of the Right Arm (and not the Left). Therefore, while it may well provide Motion during the Stroke, it is not considered a fourth source of Power.

Re: The Empty Barrel
 

Is it possible to distinguish a 4 barrel hitting stroke from a 3 barrel hitting stroke visually?

One Barrel In Reserve
 

I think so, Bucket.

Visualize, for example, a Mid-Iron Punch Shot versus a Full Power Shot of the same Club.