Significance of hip action on rear foot movement

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Oct 16, 2008
164
18
SE Michigan
Some great hitters seem to often use their hips in a manner that causes their back foot to move "forward and behind" thru contact. I see the rear toes moving under the rear heel as the foot moves "forward and behind". Many youth hitters seem to have the opposite movement where the rear heel moves over the toes. It seems to me that the "toes under" "forward and behind" encourages hip drive and a quicker inside bat path but I would be interested in your thoughts about what it means and how to coach it...if at all.

Hope these links work.

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtBvUEZaQJY1gjsE3uVgNyvYV0Qi Chamberlin

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtBvUEZaQJY1gkeDMnDxzJsgGwmQ Yee

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtBvUEZaQJY1gjg0dipsKZhNb3Xs Altuve

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtBvUEZaQJY1gjmBDbGNoMWpIuBe Cabrera

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtBvUEZaQJY1gnHg6OoRCDuEt6ml Clemente
 
May 3, 2014
2,149
83
WRT to Altuve he has said that tries not to turn his hips. But, he has incredible rear leg action. His rear leg turns and he gets that kick back action of the foot. Try and turn your rear leg without letting the pelvis turn. This is pure internal rotation of the rear leg. He is a rear legged hitter.

Watch when his belt disappears. That is the rear leg IRing like a mutha.

9YeDUQ.gif
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,661
83
Saw a video somewhere and he talked about scissoring his legs to hit through the ball.
 
Oct 16, 2008
164
18
SE Michigan
Thank you for the example of the "rear legged hitter".

Altuve.gif

Is it helpful for clearing the body so the hands can attack form inside? Is it helpful for COM to drive forward and then away from the plate to create Nyman hook? Is it simply just quickest way to turn the hips? I am curious as to why it isn't talked about more since so many great hitters do it on at least some of their swings. It also reminds me of the drag action used by fastpitch pitchers...why? Mantle, F. Robinson, Musial, Ruth, H Wagner, Elkins to name a few in addition to those in OP.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
I liked this explanation:
Power....does not come from hip MOVEMENT. Suggesting the hips need to 'get through' is total bullxxxx. The hips are simply the solid immovable rock foundation....that resists movement....that the rubber band is stretched against.

Power comes from the release of the stretch that was developed by the SnF loading process. And that comes from two body parts working against each other in rag wring fashion to create the snap.

THE SNAP (POWER) COMES BEFORE THE HIPS EVER MOVE. The movement of the hips is simply the follow through....that happens AFTER the power release. The hip movement is not the cause....it is the effect.

Take some cuts with the idea of NEVER LETTING YOUR REAR HEEL LEAVE THE GROUND....and watch your suddenness and power increase. It will move despite your effort to not let it move....but that effort to not let it move is where the power comes from.
When you stretch a band around a corner wall and let go, it flies off with exponential force. More force than if it wasn't 'bent' around the corner.

The corner didn't move at all. Neither do the hips....until AFTER the power has been generated and released. Hip movement is simply a follow through action....NOT a power generator.

The STRETCH is the load. (a stretch against a RESISTING hip....not a moving hip). The release of the stretch is the power. The hip movement that occurs as a result of the release of the stretch is simply follow through.
tumblr_orehoxYVLr1usf292o1_400.gif
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Is it helpful for clearing the body so the hands can attack form inside? Is it helpful for COM to drive forward and then away from the plate to create Nyman hook? Is it simply just quickest way to turn the hips? I am curious as to why it isn't talked about more since so many great hitters do it on at least some of their swings. It also reminds me of the drag action used by fastpitch pitchers...why? Mantle, F. Robinson, Musial, Ruth, H Wagner, Elkins to name a few in addition to those in OP.

Nothing magical taking place here.

Simply retain the inner thigh tension of the upper rear leg and you will get this action of 'staying in your leg'.

As an aside, there sure seems to be a lot of front-leg usage during this 'rear-legged swing'.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
Not disagreeing with the premise but what the hell is "exponential force" ;)
A really lotta.....force.:p Hey, don't you teach this stuff in college. You should know this stuff.
I say this jokingly.:p
Added:
Many youth hitters seem to have the opposite movement where the rear heel moves over the toes
I call it the 'look'. See a lot of instructors teach the 'point toes to China. It's a non teach the rear foot.
 
Last edited:
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
The description of 'exponential' simply implies what is being described as changing at a faster-and-faster pace (i.e., slope) as a function of the independent variable (such as 'time').
 

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