Posted by: Graylon (g_dunc@hotmail.com) on Thu Dec 6 07:27:38 2007

> The reason is simple. Balance and control.
>
> The hitter will have less balance and thus less control of his body because his front side has started to fly open prematurely.
>
> At the point of touchdown with the front toe, the hitter still has time to recognize pitch location. If the foot is opened before touchdown, shutting the swing off to take a ball is a tougher task.

Jimmy,

You stated that "the hitter will have less balance and thus less control of his body because his front side has started to fly open prematurely."

Just because you land on an open front foot(slightly open) doesn't mean you have any balance and who said anything about flying open? If your upper body turns down and in, your front hip can clear without loosing balance or control.

There is static balance (which is what you are talking about) and dynamic balance(which is the balance used in a swing)

I agree at toe touch you still have time to recognize pitch location but if you havn't start creating any torque or stretch at that point, then once you decide to go you would be starting from a dead stop.

By opening the front hip and turning the lead shoulder in you create a stretch that gets you ready to launch. If you take a pitch simply by standing there with no movement then you were never ready to hit. When you take a pitch your hips should be started, your rear elbow slotted, lead elbow working up, and the barrel sent rearward. You can abort at anytime before "go", somewhere around the lag position. Now your ready to hit.