Posted by: Shawn () on Sun Feb 3 12:37:16 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

I agree with Jack, greater.

You can't shoot a canon from a canoe.

What would be the greatest difference between a dead ball era hitter and when the HR age came? Using the front leg. That means hitting behind it which builds pressure at the foot. I've seen some dead ball era swings and some swings seemed to soft on the front side, which is fine if contact or a base hit is your only goal.

Land soft, land hard, I don't think it really matters. There's a happy medium inbetween the two. You must be prepared to immediately use the front leg.