Posted by: rql () on Mon Jan 19 21:05:33 2004

We have brought up weight shift quite a bit but what I don't seem to see is
> when does it actually shift and at what moment in the swing.I think it can be
> different for different hitters.If a fb hitter just looks dead red he can shift harder
> and more on auto pilot for 1 speed,but any pitch speed deviance and he is
> done.For those that hit alot still on there own and I do think it well take some
> feel not just looking at clips to assess properly,I think this is one area where
> some head way can be made in hitting and how to teach getting to this point
> consistently in a balanced position can help many people.
> > I like kids to be aggressive and use a que of yes/yes/yes when reading
> the pitch if we could get some correct timing cue on when to [not how to
> ]weightshift and tie it into the 2nd or 3rd yes or tie it into toe touch or heel plant
> we could all get better.
> >
>
> rql-
>
> here are some additional potential "weight shift requirements" which may be
> part of what is necessary.Speculation perhaps worth experimenting with:
>
> The hip is cocked when the stride foot is lifted,all weight at this point should
> be carried on the inside of the back foot.
>
> The weight/center of gravity shifts/accelerates forward on a line toward the
> pitcher from this point until it is blocked at heel drop.
>
> The weight/center of gravity needs to be at or past the midpoint(midpoint
> between weight bearing portions of feet (where front foot will bear weight
> even though it isn't down yet) and dropping some before the hips begin
> turning forward.This is when you "wind the rubber band"-hips open after scap
> loading has been underway for a bit so body coils and stretches,opening front
> foot some as you "rotate into toe touch".
>
> When the front heel drops,weight must still be behind weight bearing portion
> of front foot.Then with "drop and tilt" forward weight shift stops as center of
> gravity goes "UP" and/or back slightly by contact.
>...Tom that is kind of hard for me to follow[sorry] at 1st your talking about weight being carried on inside of rear leg I agree,then you say weight should be carried past the midpoint before heel drop[I am not clear on that area,then heel drop and weight must be behind weight bearing foot.I agree.
I am seeing Bagwell step back and his weight starts down then goes up and back down then up with the swing ,not forward,I put a pencil on his balance point and watched what his weight did,no forward motion .Here is what is concerning me on what is necessary.I see bagwells lower body load comparable to how Bonds scap loads upper body,different than say Griffey and Guerrero[pulling back.I think he does it to help keep his weight back.This lunging issue is a huge problem with many young kids.Bagwell while not striding linear movement is however overcoming inertia by having his body in an up and down motion,then transfers that motion into rotation.I would say he is a back side hitter,while that great hitter for the cardinals though he no strides has a wide stance and long weight shift before rotation more line drive.
So I wonder just how important is weight shift before rotation.I am thinking that for me I begin shifting weight early but it never really bares on the front foot until I begin rotation and my back side drives through the front side an my front side catches the weight as it pushes back thus causing tight hip rotation.
all this has me wondering because I had a problem with my son as he strided dropping the bat back toward the catcher[not centered at toe touch]so I had him pressed the bat on his shoulder and go back as he strided but then he stopped at his toe touch ,with his heelin the air.Problem:swinging from a static position[power concern]yet now though he is a few months older he is hitting the ball harder and further than before with pretty good consistency,if the weak spot I see is that static position he sometimes gets jammed does'nt explodewhen it is time and has to get it all started.I felt that his problem was so major and I think it came from fear of bad little pitchers that he was getting ready to bail 1st.I can if we ingrain this now build stride later back into his swing.I am going to work on this on my own and try a few different things,but tell me how you think bagwells lower load compares with bonds upper. I see bonds as going down the back up into load.