Open or closed front foot?

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Jan 6, 2009
6,590
113
Chehalis, Wa
Just re-reading Mike Epstein's book. We all know he suggest to open the front foot "as" you counter rotate or winding the rubber band. What are your thoughts on the subject?
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Just re-reading Mike Epstein's book. We all know he suggest to open the front foot "as" you counter rotate or winding the rubber band. What are your thoughts on the subject?

Please type the section of Mike's book where he recommends opening the front foot as one counter rotates.
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
Landing with front foot open and shoulders closed produces optimal power and bat speed for my DD. Just got the blast motion sensor and when she focused on getting into that position her power and bat speed had a measurable increase(2 to 3 mph) Baseball rebellion also teaches this,"we teach our hitters to land with an open front foot to maximize performance and minimize the strain on the hitter’s front side. "
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,590
113
Chehalis, Wa
5frames,

I think it's mentioned more than once. Here's one place, page 92 "because as your top half is counter-rotating, your lower half is also opening at the same time. And, before the upper half gets completely closed the players front heel will drop, initiating hip rotation."
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Josh Donaldson has described and demonstrated bottom open/top closed, as well. I see this in a lot of top-level swings, in varying degrees.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,590
113
Chehalis, Wa
Josh Donaldson has described and demonstrated bottom open/top closed, as well. I see this in a lot of top-level swings, in varying degrees.

Yes I have seen Josh describe this as well. The two books I read recently talked about creating this stretch as well (The catapult loading system and Hitting biomechanics).
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
5frames,

I think it's mentioned more than once. Here's one place, page 92 "because as your top half is counter-rotating, your lower half is also opening at the same time. And, before the upper half gets completely closed the players front heel will drop, initiating hip rotation."

Thank you for the page # Shawn. I read page 92. He gets a few things incorrect. Granted, this was written back in ~2003.
 

ian

Jun 11, 2015
1,175
48
Even with the high leg kick, Donaldson keeps his front foot closed until his foot is about 1" from the ground. I dont think the front foot should open too soon.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Dixon wrote that the hips travel "forward ahead of the shoulders in a line to the right of the target because they are cocked. Hip travel does not begin straight ahead." That is, with regard to hip direction, Dixon viewed the forward movement of the hips as having a coiling like action.

Basically FbC ... Forward-by-Coil.
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
DonaldsonGIF_zpsycg0wivh.gif
 

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