Posted by: Bill Y () on Sun Feb 3 12:31:55 2008

> >>> If one were to stand on scales and their weight read a split second before contact what would the scales say for someone who is swinging correctly?
>
> A) close to actual weight
> B) greater than actual weight
> C) Much Less than actual weight
>
> This may seem a silly question but with all the talk about "firm front side" and "weight shift" I think a real important part of the swing is misunderstood by younger batters, which is delivering maximum power to the ball requires them to feel "light on their feet" at impact.The front foot can be a major power leak for some... if they rotate their hips and land heavily on their front they are leaking power that otherwise would have been delivered to the ball.
>
> So my answer would be "C".One that delivers maximum power to the ball is going to be light on his rear foot AND front foot simultaneously just before impact.Because they are focusing their weight slightly upward or forward with their hips the scales would reflect this and show a much lower weight.After contact weight is distributed on the outside of the front foot but this is inconsequential in the delivery of power and merely balances the batter. <<<
>
> Hi Bill
>
> Welcome to the site. – In the mid 1990s, we ran a study at the U of CA (San Bernardino) that provided the answer to your question. We used the university’s’ newly acquired Motion Study computer that computes data from 4 position motion detectors, pressure sensors and high-speed cameras.
>
> The pressure sensor mat was mainly used to obtain weight distribution data on the feet during walking, running and dancing. We found that during the baseball swing, the pressure exerted by the back-foot became increasingly lighter while pressure exerted by the lead-foot increased. By contact, the pressure exerted by the lead-foot became greater than the weight of batter (pressure when standing on one foot).
>
> The lead-foot exerting greater pressure at contact than the batter’s weight was true for both batters who stride forward and with no-strides. This indicates that the increased pressure is mainly due to the added pressure generated from the extension of the lead-leg to drive hip rotation.
>
> Jack Mankin

Interesting... a question I have is how quickly could the sensors recalculate weight?Considering a complete swing is about 1/4 second, also considering the last half of the swing is much faster than the first it would seem the sensors would have to be able to recalculate weight in 100's of a second to get an accurate reading of weight distribution.The moment that I'm speaking of (as power is directed to the ball just before impact) could last only 100th of a second.

There is a distinct power advantage for me when I concentrate on landing softly with my front foot.I feel like the softer my front foot lands the quicker my hips are.I also know that the moment I land on my front foot my back foot is almost off the ground with very little weight.