Body segments do not exist in isolation.  By understanding their relationship to each other we can try to maximise the effectiveness of motor skills in developing power and control.  One important development in biomechanics research is the concept of the kinetic link (also know as the kinetic chain).  The kinetic link is the combination of two principals:

Acceleration of distal segments by a proximal segment: when analysing a link of segments it can be readily seen that movement of bigger segments tends to also move the smaller segments (relative to world space).  For example, rotate your upper arm around your shoulder so that your elbow goes forward.  Not only does your upper arm move but so does your forearm and hand.  This means that the hand has been accelerated by the action of those muscles around the shoulder.  By extending this we can see that a series of accelerations proximal to a distal segment (e.g. hand) will all sum up to move the hand faster than if only the muscles around the distal segment (e.g. wrist) were used.

Conservation of momentum: total momentum (velocity * mass) is always conserved in physics.  In a given system, inefficiency will result in momentum 'leaking' away to outside the system but a certain proportion will be maintained over a given time period.  So when a body segment(s) is slowed its momentum is passed on.  This can either be heavily absorbed by the main body or transferred to another body segment of comparable or smaller size.  As a practical example, stand with one arm out straight in front of you at shoulder height and the other one down by your side.  The arm by your side should be completely relaxed.  Quickly move your outstretched are in an arc from in front of you to straight out to your side, still at the height of your shoulder.  You should find the momentum transfers from your moving arm as it slows, to your relaxed arm.  The relaxed arm should then rotate round in the same direction (e.g. clockwise) as the other arm was.  This is because a proportion of rotational momentum has been conserved.

A player can combine the above two techniques with a link or chain of proximal to distal segments accelerating one after the other.  As one segment starts to decelerate the momentum is passed up the chain to the next segment which should then in turn be accelerated.  This creates a whipping like action that maximises the speed of the final distal segment.

Additionally, the delay of proximal movement can aid in SSC (covered in the previous section) because of the stretch developed by the timing differential between the movement of adjacent segments.

Research Notes

It should be noted that we have not so far sourced an in-depth investigation into the mechanics involved in the kinetic link.  Conversely, the related principals of a 'whip' have been examined in detail:

'Whip Waves' Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, Volume 184, Issues 1-4, 1 October 2003, Pages 192-225
Tyler McMillen and Alain Goriely.  Available online

This would suggest that the theory given above may be over simplistic.  Also, there may be possible avenues for further enhancement of particular techniques, such as an additional backwards movement of distal segments at the end of their SSC to increase tension within a movement arc and perhaps proximal segment speed. It would be beneficial if investigations could be carried out that analysed the biomechanics of various shot techniques to a high level.