Posted by: JK6569 (jkall@10dbgain.com) on Mon Dec 17 13:01:17 2007

> > > My sons high school coach teach the no stride batting stand.Can anyone tell me more on the no stride.
> >
> > There are four types of stride:
> > Straight step
> > Back then forward
> > Tap step
> > None (just a heal tap)
> > The purpose of the stride is just timing. The stride is what the hitter uses to set his swing to the speed of the pitch. What a no step stride does is help speed up the swing process so the hitter can do better with faster pitching. Other than this the stride is one of those style elements in the swing that the hitter develops over time to fit their personality.
> >
> > Here is what one of the greatest hitters of all time (Ted Williams) has to say about the stride.
> > Take Away, Back to Go Forward (Power Position)
> > The take-away, or load, requires a hitter to move back before they can go forward. This puts the hitter into what I call the "power slot" position. The hitter's first move should be back, away from the pitcher. This can be done in several ways. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with some great hitters. Many of these hitters use different ways to move the weight to the backside. Paul O'Neill used a "high knee lift". Don Mattingly used a "sit to hit" approach, while Bernie Williams uses a "toe tap". The method that a hitter uses is irrelevant, provided their weight moves back away from the pitcher, to the inside of the back foot (pivot foot). The purpose of the take away is to overcome inertia and get momentum for the swing. It places the weight slightly to the backside, making it easier to lift the front foot to stride, starting the next phase of the swing.
> > Stride to Hitting Position
> > The stride can be one of the biggest contributors to swing problems. The stride should be short, soft, and slow. The hands and arms must stay back, near the launch position. The stride must be separate from the swing. You step to hit, not step and hit. The forward movement of the stride foot should be made toward the pitcher. Leading with the heel and landing on the inside of the stride foot help keep the front toe closed, assisting the hitter in keeping the front side closed. A good hitter has slow feet and quick hands. The term "walk away from your hands" is used to reinforce keeping the hands and weight back. A hitter can never get into hitting position too early. The Weight/Wait concept is used to remind hitters to "keep their weight back and wait on the ball"
> >
> > I hope this helps.
>
> JK,
>
> You mentioned Ted Williams in your post. I'm looking at a clip of him hitting right now and he doesn't stride forward, he lifts slightly and then sets the front foot down. The front foot sets down open and not closed and there is no hesitation between toe touch and initiation of swing. When the front foot gets down you have to be creating energy in your swing. With Mr. Williams right before front toe touch his foot is opening, the front hip is opening and he is torquing the barrel rearward. He is not getting the front foot down and then generating energy, it is happening at the same time.
>
> I agree with you on some of your other points about loading against your back leg (the inside of the back foot).
>
> I have always had an issue with the landing on a closed front foot. I believe that the front hip is creating torque by opening "slightly" right at front foot touch down or slightly before. In order to do this effectively you need to be turning the barrel rearward to create the seperation between upper and lower body. If you get to toe touch and have not started and are waiting to "go" you will have to brute force the swing with your hips and shoulders to get it going, to slow. But if you get a running start you're already going without being gone.
>
> Graylon

Well said.
The other drawback to brute forcing the swing to catch up is that it can affect the vision. The head and eyes have to be on a stable platform in order to do their job of seeing the ball. When you are trying to swing too hard the stability of the platform is compromised.