Posted by: Ronnie (rwynn@comsouth.net) on Sat Mar 19 20:49:19 2011

> Hello All,
>
> I've always been interested in swing mechanics and have seen some discussion on the back foot when coming to the point of contact. What I've notice with most major league and real power hitters is how the weight comes off the back foot and in some cases (Micky Mantle, Hanley Ramirez, etc.) off the ground as they make contact. Is this strictly because of the rotational mechanics and specifically the rotation and power of the hips?
>
> Please keep in mind I know I'm not an expert and my thoughts are probably somewhat seeded through all my reading etc. but my personal thought in looking at these swings is the back hip pulls the back foot with it but the body is always balanced (over center) or slightly back with the load until the front foot is planted, head always on plane (very little movement up or down, left or right) with very little, if any, weight shift past center.
>
> Just wanted to see what the thought process is on the board.
>
> Thanks for any feedback!

Kevin, In order to get that tremendous bat speed, the MLB hitter has very powerful shoulder rotation which I believe is the force pulling the rear foot off the ground. At heel drop the hips start and according to a study of a college in our area the weight is 50-50 front foot to back foot at front toe landing. I don't know how you could measure that with a pressure plate under both feet. I believe rear leg drive shifts all the weight to the front leg as the the hips turn and the rear leg forms an L with the weight now shifted to the front foot completely as the shoulders deplete their energy. Ronnie