Posted by: Dennis W. (nym_baseball@planet.nl) on Mon Nov 20 00:24:36 2006

> If I wanted to do what Albert Pujols does in his load (lifts his front heel and puts it down, instead of taking a stride), would it be better to load my hands back right when I lift my front foot, or would it be better to load my hands back as my front foot is on its way down, and why?
Mike,
The stride serves as 2 purposes. A timing mechanism AND a physical trigger of the chain reaction of the 'uncoiling' that happens in Roational Mechanics. Although the actual step 'forward' is optional. Lifting the heel like Albert Pujols, or like Soriano who kicks up his leg like a pitcher does.
Here is what I do ,I preferr step forward or weight transfer from back to front (yes linear!). In this weight transfer forward I bring my upper torso, arms and hands in an inward turn (Load)and my hips just as open as my upper body is turned inward. And this is slight.
Never the less, now I have a good seperation in hips and upper body. This torque is quintessential in bat speed! The moment that foot or heel drops, the step forward or down movement of the heel is not lost but transferred to my hips as it starts the rotation of my hips. Because your upper body is already turned inward, the short time it stays back (not stationary) will automatically begin to rotate open....this movement is FREE SPEED! When you then use your muscles to bring your upper body rotating, the speed is exponentially greater.

Loading is something you do before INITIATING your swing. So the step forward or lifting of the foot happens at the same time.

Dennis 'Hitman' W.