Weight shift

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Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
FP, you are good with words and descriptions ... what exactly is "one-legged hitting" IYO?

FFS,

I don't take it quite as literally as some folks do. I created this clip last week as an example of what I consider one-legged.
1) When Donaldson begins to torque the handle of the bat (I believe this may be what you refer to as "twitch" -- I see it as core muscles at work), his front foot doesn't yet have much weight on it. His foot may be touching the ground at this point, but there is not much pressure underneath it. The force is created by the launch of the swing. Swing AND Shift. Not Shift THEN Swing.
2) Turning the barrel deep behind the ball. I'm not a fan of the "getting on plane" phrase because I think that is taken too literally at times as well.
3) Is the COM moving towards the pitcher? Yes, it is. And while there is some "style" associated with how far each hitter moves, I believe the most efficient is to keep the COM behind a 50/50 distribution until the swing is launched. Whether that is 60/40, 70/30, or some other combination will vary by hitter and vary by their timing with the pitch (to a certain extent). Although the ultimate goal is to be on time for every pitch, there are very few hitters that actually accomplish that. Bonds and Miggy come to mind. I'm not sure I have ever seen a clip of either where I would actually consider them fooled by the pitch.

The "weight shift" discussion is always a bit foggy for me, because there are several different ways to look at it. Some look at the COM shifting. Some look at pressure. Some look at a combination of things.

I am curious how your definition differs from mine?

cwwtLuJ.gif
 
Last edited:
Jan 6, 2009
6,587
113
Chehalis, Wa
FFS,

I don't take it quite as literally as some folks do. I created this clip last week as an example of what I consider one-legged.
1) When Donaldson begins to torque the handle of the bat (I believe this may be what you refer to as "twitch" -- I see it as core muscles at work), his front foot doesn't yet have much weight on it. His foot may be touching the ground at this point, but there is not much pressure underneath it. The force is created by the launch of the swing. Swing AND Shift. Not Shift THEN Swing.
2) Turning the barrel deep behind the ball. I'm not a fan of the "getting on plane" phrase because I think that is taken too literally at times as well.
3) Is the COM moving towards the pitcher? Yes, it is. And while there is some "style" associated with how far each hitter moves, I believe the most efficient is to keep the COM behind a 50/50 distribution until the swing is launched. Whether that is 60/40, 70/30, or some other combination will vary by hitter and vary by their timing with the pitch (to a certain extent). Although the ultimate goal is to be on time for every pitch, there are very few hitters that actually accomplish that. Bonds and Miggy come to mind. I'm not sure I have ever seen a clip of either where I would actually consider them fooled by the pitch.

The "weight shift" discussion is always a bit foggy for me, because there are several different ways to look at it. Some look at the COM shifting. Some look at pressure. Some look at a combination of things.

I am curious how your definition differs from mine?

cwwtLuJ.gif

You have to fight to stay back, stay on the heel as long as possible.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
FFS,

I don't take it quite as literally as some folks do. I created this clip last week as an example of what I consider one-legged.
1) When Donaldson begins to torque the handle of the bat (I believe this may be what you refer to as "twitch" -- I see it as core muscles at work), his front foot doesn't yet have much weight on it. His foot may be touching the ground at this point, but there is not much pressure underneath it. The force is created by the launch of the swing. Swing AND Shift. Not Shift THEN Swing.
2) Turning the barrel deep behind the ball. I'm not a fan of the "getting on plane" phrase because I think that is taken too literally at times as well.
3) Is the COM moving towards the pitcher? Yes, it is. And while there is some "style" associated with how far each hitter moves, I believe the most efficient is to keep the COM behind a 50/50 distribution until the swing is launched. Whether that is 60/40, 70/30, or some other combination will vary by hitter and vary by their timing with the pitch (to a certain extent). Although the ultimate goal is to be on time for every pitch, there are very few hitters that actually accomplish that. Bonds and Miggy come to mind. I'm not sure I have ever seen a clip of either where I would actually consider them fooled by the pitch.

The "weight shift" discussion is always a bit foggy for me, because there are several different ways to look at it. Some look at the COM shifting. Some look at pressure. Some look at a combination of things.

I am curious how your definition differs from mine?

cwwtLuJ.gif

Thank you FP. I personally don't use the term 'one-legged'. It was my belief (maybe incorrect) that 'one legged' simply meant that the swing was launched while still being supported by the rear leg, and prior to the front leg serving as a support structure. I sincerely appreciate your description.
 
Oct 13, 2014
5,471
113
South Cali
Your talking about vertical loading, stabilizing the back hip/leg as you load and creating leverage off the back heel.

Vertical loading,

giphy.gif


Note the lack of a forward weight shift.

The ground would be something to create your load or your force. I don’t want a hitter to leverage their hands or back leg or any other body part to create ‘force’. This needs to be done in balance as well, if the beginning of the sequence takes a hitter out of balance , the goal changes from hitting to adjusting to get back to balanced to hit again. Inefficient.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
Thank you FP. I personally don't use the term 'one-legged'. It was my belief (maybe incorrect) that 'one legged' simply meant that the swing was launched while still being supported by the rear leg, and prior to the front leg serving as a support structure. I sincerely appreciate your description.

I'm not a fan of the name either. IMO "one legged" and "two legged" are incomplete descriptions. No more accurate than calling a swing "linear" or "rotational". But if I were to use the phrase "one legged" that is how I would describe it.
 

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