Posted by: Coach C () on Mon Dec 15 13:14:58 2003

> http://www.youthbaseballcoaching.com/swings.html
> >
> > Jack,
> >
> > Do you see this swing differently than I? I see the entire foot coming down together. I do not see emphasis on the ball of the foot at all. His hip rotation is explosive because the lead hip-socket has locked at foot plant. Do you agree? Look it how at finish he's on the heel.
> >
> > Thing of beauty isn't it.
> >
> > Coach C
>
> -----------
> Giving foot cues to try and explain what is going on with the hips and the muscles of the CORE is foolish. Epstein talks about front heel dropping is what "TRIGGERS" the hips to uncock. WRONG. The muscles of the CORE trigger the hips. So what difference does it make if you land on the heel or the ball of the foot -- that only matters in terms of resisting or blocking the weight shift -- it ain't got nothing to do with the hips. The hips may come next in the sequence --but cause and effect -- heel dropping is baloney. I drop my heel all day long and guess what -- my hips never move. I tell kids drop your heel and guess what -- their hips do not move. Go figure. Bonds' swing is in sequence -- no doubt. focus on what his hips do and forget about all this focus on what his feet are doing. You are looking in the wrong place. That's what started all that squish the bug stuff -- foot cues to explain hip action. That's crazy to me. Look at Bonds' hips -- that's beauty -- forget about his feet.
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I never teach foot cues, but foot plant helps tell the story of proper hip action. The reason for the post was to identify the proplem with teaching ball of foot in hitting. It's a non-teach if the upper half is taught to do the right thing. I'm looking in exactly the right place.....the whole body.

You have a pretty strong opinion....what's your backround?

coach C