Posted by: Dog (dawg11@flash.net) on Fri Dec 17 00:12:08 1999

> > > Hello Jack- Concerning you last statements, I have a question, why do all pro hitters even bother with shifting weight, if this is expended energy. Now on the other hand, If a hitter steps too soon and plants his front foot too soon and is waiting too long for the pitch to come, where there is no rhythmic of fluid timing of the pitch, then many times they are only left with rotation to hit the ball. These type of swings were the timing is way of too soon creates lunging and weak swings.regards..dog
> > > Hi Dog
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> All pro hitters do not stride forward during the swing. But you are right, almost all do. The stride though is getting shorter and the foot plant is softer and softer. If more weight shift were helpful, why wouldn’t they be striding harder and longer. Jeff Bagwell starts with a wide stance and his step is back toward the catcher. Wouldn’t that be subtracting from his bat speed?
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> You are right again, rhythm is important and a short stride works just fine. Have you ever noted how long Tiger Woods stride is? But then he is hitting a stationary ball.
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> Jack Mankin
> Hello Jack- Thanks for some great and very valid points. I agree the stride should be short, I like to refer to it as a "step" instead of stride. Longer and harder strides will cancel out maximun rotation during the swing. Perfect timing on the pitch though allows for weight shift and rotation to work to their full potential. Now, also let me explain weight shift, I think our friend Josh has it right, it is back leg inner thigh to front leg inner thigh, and back hip to front hip. I agree that if a hitter jumps at the ball with only linear explosion, rotation will be minimized and full power lost,thanks again for some fine insight...dog
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