Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@ko.org) on Tue Nov 27 10:50:40 2007

Jimmy said:

"Most of the details that I do agree with here in Tom's post, happen naturally with some good basic fundamentals."

I agree. You are born with a strong influence to develop the mlb pattern "naturally" IF you don't excessively mess up progress with incompatible drills/experience.
That is why it is nice to understand the requirements and how the pattern satisfies them and what it looks and feel like.

"firm front side" is a longstanding feel description of a high level mlb pattern.

It is related to firming up/extending the front leg.

If you are having trouble getting the feel of a firm front side or getting the front leg straight, it may help to know more details about what is involved.

For example, you might mistakenly assume that you want to inhibit front leg and hip turn to hit against a firm front side or front leg, whereas what is requires is as much ongoing hip turn as possible or the front leg extension will not be synched with the extension of the front wrist at contact the way it should be in the high level pattern.

Trying to keep the front foot closed will greatly inhibit the natural "front side stretch" that feels like the connection of the front heel to the hands that develops when you get a synched running start and rotate into toe touch, more so if you belly-up.

Letting the front side open, however will not work either UNLESS you have well synched upper body "resistance" that keeps the hands and shoulders back as the front leg and hips open.

The more you in general belly up to the plate, the quicker you will potentially be (like Bonds) and the more you will need to get the front legs and hips "clearing" early.

So what do you need to do to keep the hands and shoulders back to wind the rubber band while the front leg and hips open so you can have a swing that is quick and adjustable and starts "early" with hands still back ?

You need to create stretch/separation at the right time, in the right place ending with a quick last bit of torso stretch that reverses effciently.

This requires a running start of the front leg and hips as the handle turns, uncocking the bat with the hands staying back.

Then it requires the simultaneous firing of the hips and tilting of the shoulders as weight shifts.

Then it requires the bathead firing out just as the coil reverses.

This is all necessary for a firm front side feel and for straightening the front leg at the right time and for staying back and not flying open.

Knowing how the "natural high level swing" happens can help expedite rather than inhibit learning.