Wellphyt,
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The front leg appears to be "locked" at contact? Anyone want to reconcile that image to the conventional wisdom that the front leg should be straight yet slightly flexed at POC.
O'Leary, Cshilt,Wellphyt,FiveFrameSwing, other hitting "experts"
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The front leg appears to be "locked" at contact? Anyone want to reconcile that image to the conventional wisdom that the front leg should be straight yet slightly flexed at POC.
R
RayR
Guest
In this instance I would say due to the inside location he is opening up a little more than normal.
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
Yeager:
After the lead leg blocks its second and final function is to push backwards against the ground. This continues to accelerate the hips, continues to add force into the system, stabilizes the body.
Those hitters that gain extension in the lead leg before contact are often the best home run hitters, if they can make contact. Extending that early can often effect accuracy. [from memory ... this was in reference to the lead leg fully extending at, or prior to, contact]
To finish the front leg push the hitter should try to get lead leg extension before contact. This sends a maximum amount of energy into the upper body and maximizes hip rotation (but not too early)
After the lead leg blocks its second and final function is to push backwards against the ground. This continues to accelerate the hips, continues to add force into the system, stabilizes the body.
Those hitters that gain extension in the lead leg before contact are often the best home run hitters, if they can make contact. Extending that early can often effect accuracy. [from memory ... this was in reference to the lead leg fully extending at, or prior to, contact]
To finish the front leg push the hitter should try to get lead leg extension before contact. This sends a maximum amount of energy into the upper body and maximizes hip rotation (but not too early)
Last edited:
Five
While I have not studied Yeager I would agree with what he has stated here except the pushing back statement. I think if you plant the heel and land on a firm front leg most times your hitter will be premature on straightening the leg. Then they will stand straight up and top the ball. Ground ball to the 6 or 4 hole.
As they stride and plant they need to flex or "Sit" a little at heal plant. This involves flexing the front knee. This retards or prevents that problem. I have always considered the leg straightening to be the result of a good hip turn. Pushing back is not something I would use as I think it could lead to balance issues but that is just my opinion. One if the things I do tell my students is finish with your nose behind your belly button. If they do that then generally that front leg will straighten on its own.
While I have not studied Yeager I would agree with what he has stated here except the pushing back statement. I think if you plant the heel and land on a firm front leg most times your hitter will be premature on straightening the leg. Then they will stand straight up and top the ball. Ground ball to the 6 or 4 hole.
As they stride and plant they need to flex or "Sit" a little at heal plant. This involves flexing the front knee. This retards or prevents that problem. I have always considered the leg straightening to be the result of a good hip turn. Pushing back is not something I would use as I think it could lead to balance issues but that is just my opinion. One if the things I do tell my students is finish with your nose behind your belly button. If they do that then generally that front leg will straighten on its own.
I in no way claim to be an expert but I work with young girls 10u and 12u and I needed something they could understand so put together with what I have learned from my research and this site 5 hitting steps. I know there is much more to hitting than is listed here but this is what I start with and then try to explain as I go. Any feedback is welcome.
KEY TERMS
• Load- getting your center of gravity over your back foot
• Knee Drive- driving back knee toward front knee
• Toe Touch- after your load and stride when your front toe touches
• Palm up/Palm Down- Left palm faces down right palm faces up
• Slot Position – back elbow lowers to your side when rotating
• Hammer- How we unload our wrist like using a hammer
• Extension- after contact with the ball extend toward the pitcher
• Finish- this is your follow through
1. LOAD & STRIDE
• Weight must go back and then forward
• Step away from your hands
• Land on front toe with slightly bent front knee
• Bat at 45 Degree angle over shoulder
2. Knee Drive/ Heel Plant
• Weight transfer into the front heel back heel comes up
• Hands must stay behind back hip
• Get on back tip toe
• Majority of weight on front foot
• Rotation starts
3. Swivel/ Hands Flat
• Must get to Palm up /Palm Down position
• Front elbow must be going up
• Back elbow by your side (SLOT Position)
• Continue rotation toward the ball
4. Release Bat Barrel “Hammer”
• This is when contact with the ball is made
• Hands must stay in palm up/palm down position
• Done just like driving a nail with a hammer
• Arms DO NOT EXTEND to hit the ball
5. Extension and Finish
• Arms will extend toward pitcher
• At extension is when the wrist roll over
• Finish with bat above front shoulder
• Should be balanced and ready to run
KEY TERMS
• Load- getting your center of gravity over your back foot
• Knee Drive- driving back knee toward front knee
• Toe Touch- after your load and stride when your front toe touches
• Palm up/Palm Down- Left palm faces down right palm faces up
• Slot Position – back elbow lowers to your side when rotating
• Hammer- How we unload our wrist like using a hammer
• Extension- after contact with the ball extend toward the pitcher
• Finish- this is your follow through
1. LOAD & STRIDE
• Weight must go back and then forward
• Step away from your hands
• Land on front toe with slightly bent front knee
• Bat at 45 Degree angle over shoulder
2. Knee Drive/ Heel Plant
• Weight transfer into the front heel back heel comes up
• Hands must stay behind back hip
• Get on back tip toe
• Majority of weight on front foot
• Rotation starts
3. Swivel/ Hands Flat
• Must get to Palm up /Palm Down position
• Front elbow must be going up
• Back elbow by your side (SLOT Position)
• Continue rotation toward the ball
4. Release Bat Barrel “Hammer”
• This is when contact with the ball is made
• Hands must stay in palm up/palm down position
• Done just like driving a nail with a hammer
• Arms DO NOT EXTEND to hit the ball
5. Extension and Finish
• Arms will extend toward pitcher
• At extension is when the wrist roll over
• Finish with bat above front shoulder
• Should be balanced and ready to run
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
Good points IUBI.
There was a time I actually taught the front leg push back. I didn’t find promoting it to be overly productive and stopped teaching it … at least ‘directly’. For the most part (not 100%), if you give a hitter the objective of resisting moving their head forward upon front foot strike, then you’ll get the action that Yeager was describing … the extending of the lead leg and resultant acceleration of the barrel. Some of this, IMO, has to do with the angle that the heel plants at. If your swing plants your heel, then often there will be enough rotation for the heel to be planted at 45-degrees, and from here, the blocking and extension of the front leg will, again IMO, result in pushing the front hip rearward.
A video will help clarify the portion of the swing I’m attempting to describe …
What Yeager is saying, IMO, is that the extension of the lead leg, as we see above, enhances rotation and further accelerates the barrel.
There was a time I actually taught the front leg push back. I didn’t find promoting it to be overly productive and stopped teaching it … at least ‘directly’. For the most part (not 100%), if you give a hitter the objective of resisting moving their head forward upon front foot strike, then you’ll get the action that Yeager was describing … the extending of the lead leg and resultant acceleration of the barrel. Some of this, IMO, has to do with the angle that the heel plants at. If your swing plants your heel, then often there will be enough rotation for the heel to be planted at 45-degrees, and from here, the blocking and extension of the front leg will, again IMO, result in pushing the front hip rearward.
A video will help clarify the portion of the swing I’m attempting to describe …
What Yeager is saying, IMO, is that the extension of the lead leg, as we see above, enhances rotation and further accelerates the barrel.
Agree. I just consider it a "No teach" like you.
Dan that is a pretty comprehensive list. I like that. Nice Job putting it all together on your part.
- May 13, 2008
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I agree that is a good list of cues and points. Be careful with this one, though:
You don't want your center of gravity over your back foot, it needs to stay inside the back foot. Having the weight centered over the back foot during load is not something you typically see in high level swings.
You don't want your center of gravity over your back foot, it needs to stay inside the back foot. Having the weight centered over the back foot during load is not something you typically see in high level swings.
