Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sun Jan 4 17:17:34 2004

hi all
> > >
> > > i experimented with my legs. i started with legs first and then the whole
kinetic chain. and it worked! tremendous bat speed and power. at the
beginning it was hard to time the pitch and it looked weird but once you get it
down you start hitting like jeter. it is amazing. i cant wait to try against live
pitching. i dont know if i will be able to time pithes this way but i have to try it. it
feels good and connected now. i still struggle at times with keeping hands
back as my body rotates.
> > > thanks for all the help.
> > >
> > > toti
> >
> > Toti,
> >
> > I always get concerned when people say they start with the legs, because
normally it leads to a a quick hip and little connection to the ground with the
feet. Do this.......have someone throw you BP...if you find yourself leaning on
your front side or transferring weight to the front side when you take the
occasional pitch that isn't a good pitch to hit, then the legs are not stable. You
should have the feeling that the ball is coming to you and if you're doing that
correctly you'll be near 50/50 when taking pitches. Contrary to popular
opinion, I do not believe the legs are meant for driving, but rather for balance
and resistance to the uppper body...torso/shoulders/arms and hands in that
order. I feel my legs in the swing, when they stay connected to the ground.
> >
> > You may be doing all of these things now, but thinking that leg power will
translate into bat speed is not my feel at all. I generate about 94 mph on a
good day. My son is 11 and has got to about 72 mph. These speeds in and
of themselves are not as important as where the speed is
happening.........before impact hopefully, but the ball flight will tell us that. The
power is in the torso!!! For me anyway!!!
> >
> > Your enthusiasm is tremendous.....keep it up laddy!!
> >
> > Coach C
> > CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO START YOUR
STRIDE, OR IS THIS A REACTION THING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
> THANKS
> DAN K
>
> >

DanK

I would say once you get a good swing somewhat ingrained(while at the
same time beginning to get up the learning curve on the mental side),you will
often be looking either in or out and ready to adjust up/down on the fly.For the
situation you are anticipating,your stride will then be best timed by when you
want the front toe to touch,assuming you stride.Other aspects of the stride will
be the same,but you will get the toe down a little sooner or a little later
depending on what the pitcher has and what you are expecting from the
pitcher.This means you will start your dance with the pitcher a little sooner if
you want the toe down early and a little later if you want it down a little
later.You might use your time in the on deck circle to finalize the timing.