Posted by: Coach C () on Tue Feb 10 04:27:12 2004

>>> I am a little skeptical as to why you encourage landing on the ball of the front foot with the front heel closed, then pivoting it open (as it lowers) to initiate the swing. Believe me, I have tried this cue from a balanced position, and the only thing that seems to sputter open is the front foot. The hips do not move, and neither does the backside.
> >
> > Before I instruct, I often question the logic of the bio-mechanical movements. Perhaps you are correct, and there is another way to facilitate hip movement. I see that there is no way that you are going to agree on the cues I proposed, so, on that point, let's just "agree to disagree."
> >
> > I offered you my argument, now I want to hear how you would solve the following problem.
> >
> > The Problem: You are teaching a ballplayer to rotate around a stationary axis. You instruct him to have plenty of flex in the front knee, then to lower and rotate the front heel, spin the front knee, and extend it to the point of contact. When he hits the bag, you notice that all upper body movements are correct, but he lacks some swing speed. Your discovery--the ballplayer has his front leg straight with the toe pointed at the pitcher at contact (i.e., with an inside pitch), but the back foot and leg is still planted in the ground in the same position as it was before initiation.
> >
> > The Solution: You decide that the batter needs to "prod" his back foot and leg to rotate, before muscle memory sets in. Which "cues" do you use to assist the backside in forming its proper "L" position at contact, so that its hip can also rotate (or until the backside can move automatically without help)?
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> > I'm looking forward to the "cues" you offer to share with me.
> >
> > Please respond ASAP. <<<
> >
> > Hi BHL
> >
> > The cue is, “Rotate the heel – Rotate the bat-head.” It works fine for me. But if I got the results with it that you describe, I would certainly stop using it.
> >
> > Jack Mankin
> >
> >.BHL,Rick Downs the NY Yankees hitting instructor has said drive the back side through the front side.I use a drill of driving the back knee down and in and isolating the move with everything else in place.It seems the hitter is just getting his front side working so he will need to focus on getting the feel of driving that back side till it comes automatic and balanced with the front side.

I agree with the back-side through the front-side terminolgy, I find it helpful in teaching the BHT Jack has described. As far as the legs go for me....get the swing plane right and the legs do the right thing.....problem I see is that most don't have the swing plane right placing the legs into the act of compensation (for balance). However, if one was having success with driving the back knee down, I'd stick with it, especially if my buddy RQL is likes it.

Had a youngster tell me the other day....you know what it's not front-side or back-side, it's shoulders as a unit. I said "exactly!" this is coming from a kid who used to pull the bat with his front side, by trying to turn the lead shoulder back or by pulling the lead arm. It's not always as simple, but in this particular case, we worked (in slow motion) the act of driving the backside throught the front and feeling the bat-head release, through BHT. The transformation has been miraculous for him. We never talked about the legs. Bat/Shoulders must work as a unit in my opinion.....same plane. So I think that on lower pitches there will be some spine tilt....certainly more than would be on a high pitch. Bonds definitly does this!

Think shoulders/bathead same plane....get BHT torque right to feel the bathead release (as Jack has stated) and the legs will work correctly.

Nice to hear from you RQL. Hope all is well!!

Coach C