Forum: Does the position of the back foot (toe straight ahead square, "cheated in", or even allowed to angle out slightly (look at the Mantle clip) have any consequences?
Registered User
Forum: Does the position of the back foot (toe straight ahead square, "cheated in", or even allowed to angle out slightly (look at the Mantle clip) have any consequences?
Curmudgeon
If the rear foot is square or slightly turned in, it's easier to coil the hip without excessive counter-rotation (i.e. losing two eye contact with the pitcher).Originally Posted by raptor
Baseball Voodoo
I have a similar question:
Does anyone have any pics of MLB hitters that are on the ball of their back foot (vs flat-footed) during their stance? I was always told to do this, but I'm not seeing it, now that I'm looking for it.
Maybe we could post some clips of good hitters in this thread and focus on the back foot.
Looking through Clips section:
Flat footers (just 1st 3 pages)
Attachment 25623
Attachment 25655
Ball of foot
- none so far--
My Baseball Cue Theory strikes again. Always do the opposite! I never even questioned this one
Last edited by songtitle; 11-30-2012 at 07:48 AM.
eFastball.com hitting and pitching fact checker
Registered User
If you are talking about how the back foot should be in the stance before it rotates then I think it is generally personal preference. I think on the flat versus ball of the foot part I think it is hard to tell if the flat footers are not really on the ball of the foot. Regardless, they will get to the ball of foot before they hit no matter what it looks like in the beginning. As for the angled in (cheating), angled out, or square part I think it is also personal preference. I was taught angled in (cheating) but I didn't like it, felt it hurt balance. Others like it. Angled out? That might be a crutch/adjustment for someone who has a tendency to be quick with their hips or they over rotate them. Square is probably best but it's personal preference.
Registered User
the back heel is usually on the ground till the back leg drive has started (knee goes inward before heel leaves the ground)
I think walks are overrated unless you can run. If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps, but the guy who walks and can’t run, most of the time he’s clogging up the bases for somebody who can run. – Dusty Baker.
Baseball's Perfect Knight
Not a clip but this one always amazed me....
It is described nearly every time the image is encountered as his 3,000th hit, which was a double to left if I recall correctly.
You could easily say that Edmonds right big toe is the anchor. Never really moving, with the rest of the foot rotating and then elevating on that anchored right big toe.
Pujols is certainly flat-footed, then flings it forward slightly, and finishes in the classic "bug squash" position.
Last edited by StanTheMan; 11-30-2012 at 12:53 PM.
"Herman Franks to Sal Yvars to Bobby Thomson. Ralph Branca to Bobby Thomson to Helen Rita... cue Russ Hodges."
Registered User
In the stance,
angling the back foot out severely inhibits opening the hips.
To demonstrate it for yourself, keep the front foot "square" (neutral), while trying to turn your hips with back foot: 1.turned in; 2. square; 3. turned out.
Younger rec players will sometimes have feet splayed out in their stance. It's definitely worth nagging them about not doing it with the back foot; otherwise they don't have a prayer of getting their hips open.
Skip
Registered User
Having the rear foot splayed out is only a killer if the hitter relies on or uses the ER push of the rear leg to open the hips.
Babe knew what was up with the rear leg action.
Registered User
Nice video.
Got a little walk up drill and he was pimpin that last HR.
Baseball Voodoo
0:50 mark. Interesting.
babe ruth back leg action.JPG
eFastball.com hitting and pitching fact checker
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks