Posted by: Jim C. (jhconklinjr@comcast.net) on Wed Apr 13 08:55:24 2005

> ... I guess I really have to focus on a real soft stride like I am stepping on thin ice with that lead foot and then during the swing and at contact the weight should transfer to 50/50.

Hi Dave,

In my experience, you might want to get the weight distributed back to balance as soon as possible. Stride to balance (50/50) onto the ball of your front foot with the bent (soft) front knee and your toe slightly flared open. Reason being is that if you hold your weight back on the stride (thin ice), your weight will have to move forward when you swing to get to balance (your body will find it in order to exert), this tends to "slide" your pelvis forward during the swing which tends to "cast" or "sweep" the swing somewhat. Some people refer to this pelvic slide during the swing as "carrying your weight with the swing." Some of your body's energy is diverted from the swing effort into regaining balance.

The trick with the open toe is to stride onto it without leaking your hips or shoulders open. Watch some ML games for when the batter's check their swings. They will generally have completed the stride, but the trunk of their bodies remain "loaded".