Front Side Resistance

**jbooth** · 03-15-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by RichK

I don't understand all this attention to the back foot (or for that matter the back knee).

When trying to cure a bug squisher, it is typically argued that you do NOT want to focus on what the back foot is actually doing but rather how the leg/hip is enabling a weight shift or coil/uncoil. I THINK many would agree with this (MTS, I'm not sure I agree with using leg kick drills the way you do, sorry; I do get your point that you see it as part of a process, especially with young hitters...).

So if we don't think about actively addressing the foot in the most extreme circumstance (bug squishing), why worry about it at all?

Yes, hitters should come off their back foot -- partly do to weight shift and partly due to rotation (belly button finishes forward). Some "toe-up", some even drag it forward. If they are not off it in some way, it's a good indicator that something is wrong in other areas.

The one thing I DO like doing with the foot is occasionally turning it inward to help hitters feel a tightened hip coil (usually for the first time). But even in those cases I don't discuss a push or pressure or anything AT the foot. I've seen the idea of the turned-in toe or "pre-set screw-in" sometimes discussed when talking about "the move"; other times I've seen it discussed as distinct (and distanced) from "the move". Some instructors/hitters like the toe pointed inward at the plate, but I think it's better to give an enhance hip coil feel than as a game stance.

Many may disagree with above, just my two cents. TKS.

I agree. The foot itself is not much of a factor. Sure, you need it pointed at the plate, and the hitter should load to the inside edge or ball, but the foot doesn't DO anything.

Just as the back knee doesn't DO anything, although it MUST stay bent.

Keep it simple. Turn the front hip toward the plate, get weight on the inside of the back foot without getting OVER it, and then push from the butt with a bent back leg and uncoil.

**tom.guerry** · 03-15-2012, 05:02 PM

well -

If you feel nervous or offended by the H-I info, you might try tewks site instead.

Articles

Still, even that is hard for many to understand, see also (when trouble sleeping):

Toe Touch and Heel Plant

**tom.guerry** · 03-15-2012, 10:12 PM

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...er_side_ST.gif

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...r_front_ST.gif

**jbooth** · 03-15-2012, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by tom.guerry

well -

If you feel nervous or offended by the H-I info, you might try tewks site instead.

Why? It's the same incorrect bio-mechanical info. tewks just has more class, and social skills than the other guy.

**Wellphyt** · 03-16-2012, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by tom.guerry

well -

If you feel nervous or offended by the H-I info, you might try tewks site instead.

Articles

Still, even that is hard for many to understand, see also (when trouble sleeping):

Toe Touch and Heel Plant

Tom, if Tewks still believes the same stuff about weight shift that he was posting over at Baseball debate, I don't want any part of it. The video clip of him demonstrating how to coil the hips is just silly. I'm going to stick with the Hall of Famer with over 4700 ML at bats; Ted Williams.

I'm not nervous or offended by the Hitting Illustrated material. IMO it's just wrong. I consider much of it pseudoscience.

**jbooth** · 03-16-2012, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Wellphyt

I'm not nervous or offended by the Hitting Illustrated material. IMO it's just wrong. I consider much of it pseudoscience.

Isn't any kind of science. It's just stuff he made up from what he feels and his flawed analysis of what he sees in video. It defies the laws of physics and anatomy.

**Wellphyt** · 03-16-2012, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by RichK

I don't understand all this attention to the back foot (or for that matter the back knee).

When trying to cure a bug squisher, it is typically argued that you do NOT want to focus on what the back foot is actually doing but rather how the leg/hip is enabling a weight shift or coil/uncoil. I THINK many would agree with this (MTS, I'm not sure I agree with using leg kick drills the way you do, sorry; I do get your point that you see it as part of a process, especially with young hitters...).

So if we don't think about actively addressing the foot in the most extreme circumstance (bug squishing), why worry about it at all?

Yes, hitters should come off their back foot -- partly do to weight shift and partly due to rotation (belly button finishes forward). Some "toe-up", some even drag it forward. If they are not off it in some way, it's a good indicator that something is wrong in other areas.

The one thing I DO like doing with the foot is occasionally turning it inward to help hitters feel a tightened hip coil (usually for the first time). But even in those cases I don't discuss a push or pressure or anything AT the foot. I've seen the idea of the turned-in toe or "pre-set screw-in" sometimes discussed when talking about "the move"; other times I've seen it discussed as distinct (and distanced) from "the move". Some instructors/hitters like the toe pointed inward at the plate, but I think it's better to give an enhance hip coil feel than as a game stance.

Many may disagree with above, just my two cents. TKS.

Unfortunately there are drills being taught today that cause kids to bug squish and leak the coil. When presented with kids that do either of those actions, I've found it very helpful to understand what Sevam1 says in this video starting at the 2:25 mark:

Most understand what bug squishing is, but I don't believe many understand what leaking the coil is yet. I predict that as more discussion about coil leakage finds it's way onto hitting forums like this, instructors and coaches will eventually change how they teach weight shift. However, as with most concepts that go against conventional wisdom in fastpitch, it will initially be met with lots of resistance.

I believe that the back foot is a no-teach for many kids who haven't had the correct action coached out of them. The reason I keep raising the issue of the back foot is not to suggest it needs to necessarily be taught, but rather to hopefully keep the correct foot action from being accidentally coached out of kids. I'm speaking from experience as this is what happened with my DD.

Coil leakage: The back heel comes off the ground prior to transition; or, the back knee turns down-and-in prior to transition.

Transition: The point in the swing where the hips first begin to turn forward. Look for forward belt buckle or belt loop movement to spot forward hip movement. Keep in mind that the command sent from the brain to activate the butt muscles to turn the hips forward, occurs a little before you can actually see forward movement.

Here is Hamilton about one frame after transition. Notice his back foot is still on the ground. If you have the infamous clip of Bustos in her red USA uniform, open it up in Quicktime and use the arrow key to advance one frame at a time and you will see the same thing.

Hamilton The Move jpeg.JPG

Coil Leakage is less of an issue in fastpitch because of the high-tech bats and short fences. I'm not suggesting that a solidly built fastpitch player can't hit HRs if they leak the coil some. I'm saying they will hit more HRs and drive the ball with more "squash", if they don't leak the coil.

**FiveFrameSwing** · 04-14-2013, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Wellphyt

Tom, if Tewks still believes the same stuff about weight shift that he was posting over at Baseball debate, I don't want any part of it. The video clip of him demonstrating how to coil the hips is just silly. I'm going to stick with the Hall of Famer with over 4700 ML at bats; Ted Williams.

I'm not nervous or offended by the Hitting Illustrated material. IMO it's just wrong. I consider much of it pseudoscience.

**redhotcoach** · 04-14-2013, 12:22 PM

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