Posted by: Jimmy () on Sat Feb 10 19:40:30 2007

> "Is it bad to 'squish the bug' instead of trying to get on top of the toes as you finish with
your back foot? When you squish the bug, it seems like you turn on your back foot
instead of getting on top of the toes."
>
> To answer the original question...
>
> Yes.
>
>
> "Do not try to get to that tippy toe on the back side. This will only promote poor balance
to the front side along with a weak top hand. The back foot will naturally get to that tippy
toe position for a millisecond as contact is made. This is not to be concentrated on or the
whole timing of it is thrown off."
>
> If you look at Albert Pujols (and many others), at the point of contact their are on the
tips of their back toes and in many cases their back feet are entirely off the ground.
>
> If a hitter isn't getting onto their toe, then they aren't swinging from their middle
enough.
>
> Also, a hitter is PULLED onto their back toe by the rotation of their hips. They don't PUSH
off of their back foot to get onto their toe.

Chris,

I think you've misunderstood me. I do think that the hitter should get to that tippy toe or
off the ground position, but when the hitter actually tries to achieve this he sacrifices
timing and balance. When he tries to let the back foot naturally come through and finish
in the squashed bug position, his back foot will do what you and I desire. The position
that we both desire is only for a very short period of time the point that contact is made,
then the back foot comes back down to the squashed bug position.

Jimmy