Posted by: tom.guerry (tom.guerry@kp.org) on Sun Jan 30 09:55:07 2005

>> Hello Jack. I was hitting with my minor league hitting coordinator the other day and he was pointing out to me how hitters start their hips. We looked at how guys take their back knee down and forward before turning our foot to allow the hands to get out in front of the hands. He explained it to me as just lifting your heel once you plant the front foot. I heard that certain organizations teach this (Florida--my organization, Oakland) I also heard that certain organizations believe this isn't correct (White Sox). I don't have any clips of White Sox players to compare this, but I am just curious if you've noticed this and how much it can affect bat speed. I don't do this. I was informed not to change, but if it is something that can help me, I'd like to add it in. My hitting coordinator compared me to Jim Thome for this little hip thing. Apparently Thome doesn't do this, but I didn't understand it as we watched Thome's video clip. I don't think Bonds does this either. Any
information that can help me decide whether or not this is a better way to start the hips would be appreciated. I did see this with Soriano in his video clip. I hope I explained this correctly.

Thanks in advance. <<

Here's a description of typical back foot support when the hip starts turning open to "wind the rubber band'.See Glaus clip at youthbaseball.

... personally don't think PUSH is a very accurate description of the action related to the back foot.

I do believe Glauss is a good example of the typical sequence.

The back side is turning back with the inward turn,then back scap pinch as part of the "load" action.

During this motion,the hips then begin to turn open to start the "unload motion" from the middle out,using the back foot as a base.

At the same time (as back scap pinches toward spine as primary way of "cocking
hands"/"loading hands") the weight needs to have started forward to prepare for getting off the back side to use the front foot later for finising coiling,then as a base for uncoiling).This is the "push" aspect,but it is more a result of how the body has been loaded and balanced up to this point as opposed to a primary or very active "PUSH".

This can be seen/inferred from video in some cases (Glauss included) by the back foot action.In a good sequence,the back foot actually turns back as the hips use it for a base to start the unload motion by turning open from the middle out.Supporting this turning action is more important than developing a PUSH.This is also what leads to the very different backfoot action from the dreaded "squish the bug").In the desired rotational case,the "heel leads the toes" because of this reaction to hips turning open instead of giving support by pivoting on the ball of the back foot with the toe staying ahead of the
heel/heel rotating back (as it does in "back foot bug squishers").>>>>