It seems like the latest trend is for hitters to have their weight back with the front knee straight and foot facing the plate through the entire swing. (This is what I think is new). See David Wright's HR this weekend (5th picture in series) Mets 04-15-08
Looking through the MLB photos, it looks like Jeter, Arod, Youkilis, Carlos Quinten and Michael Young are a few who have adopted this style. Also looks like many D-1 players have also gone to this style.
I guess the part I thought was new was the foot facing the plate though the entire swing. Is that not new? I have reivised the post to try and make it more clear.
Posts: 3 | Location: United States | Registered: April 17, 2008
Originally posted by LaLoosh: It seems like the latest trend is for hitters to have their weight back with the front knee straight and foot facing the plate through the entire swing. (This is what I think is new). See David Wright's HR this weekend (5th picture in series) Mets 04-15-08
Looking through the MLB photos, it looks like Jeter, Arod, Youkilis, Carlos Quinten and Michael Young are a few who have adopted this style. Also looks like many D-1 players have also gone to this style.
Having the front knee bent and foot facing the field with momentum forward. See Pedrola's single. (6th picture in series)Boston 04-17-08
Pros? Cons? Opinions on these different styles?
David Wright's foot is not facing the plate. It is very close to 45 degrees. Note the line on the front of the batter's box, the picture is shot probably near the dug out area which makes it look like it's facing the plate.
The Texas kid's foot is more square, but his knee is pointing forward. I would be worried about long term knee damage using this style, but that's just me. Could be why Tiger has knee problems???
The Pedroia photo is well after contact and he is already starting to run. Ortiz turns his foot toward the field and starts on a soft knee, but the knee firms up with weight shift.
Posts: 577 | Location: mid west | Registered: January 23, 2008
I agree with Redbird. This is definitely not a new trend. In my opinion, landing gently on a “closed” (or “square”) stride foot has been solid advice for the 40 years I have been around the game. But that’s just my opinion.
Hopefully, this won’t be a new trend that we can all study, debate, attach 10 different cues to, argue about who owns the intellectual property rights to each one and so on.
“Looking through the MLB photos, it looks like Jeter, Arod, Youkilis, Carlos Quinten and Michael Young are a few who have adopted this style. Also looks like many D-1 players have also gone to this style”.
I think that EVERY high level hitter who ever played a 70-170 game season adopted this style from time to time during that season as a way of keeping himself from opening up too soon. During the long season players always change little things like this for weeks at a time. Golfers do the same thing. Until what “worked” (felt good/comfortable) no longer does, then they scrap it for the next one.
I tried to get this same point across to Sandman 6 years ago but the thread started to evolve into a linear/rotation, he said/she said contest and got buried.
One other point I wanted to make was about the “foot facing the plate through the entire swing”. Until contact maybe (after it if you only study slo-mo clips), but in my opinion the swing does not end until the hitter’s rotation does and at that time the foot could be pointing to the center field bleachers (upper deck).
THop
Posts: 146 | Location: Georgia | Registered: January 11, 2003
Thanks, I have been watching ESPN and going in SlowMo on the Tivo and looking at these pictures. Most release there foot our towards the field, but it seems that more are keeping their foot pointed toward foul territory even after the swing. If you have time, take a look at these one.
I’m no expert either. Beemax may have some good thoughts.
That picture of Carlos Quinten sure does look restrictive doesn’t it? Could have been an outside fastball or off speed that he stayed dug in on. Or even a part of his two-strike swing/approach. Hard for me to tell with just clips and stills.
I’d bet Quinten doesn’t look the same with a middle in fastball on a 2-0, 3-1 count though.
A good thing to do, in my opinion, might be to gather a lot of clips of him over the course of the season.
THop
Posts: 146 | Location: Georgia | Registered: January 11, 2003
