The head-first slide debate.

[Williamsburg2599]

Many sites I have come across say that the headfirst slide is pointless and dangerous, including this one http://www.webball.com/skill/run_slide.html , what does everyone here think?

[cartersball]

I have always been of the mindset that you give 100% when you're on the field. I agree that the head first slide can be dangerous, but sometimes it seems like the fastest way to slide to me. So as far as I am concerned it should be a situational decision made by the runner.

[Williamsburg2599]

I have always been of the mindset that you give 100% when you're on the field. I agree that the head first slide can be dangerous, but sometimes it seems like the fastest way to slide to me. So as far as I am concerned it should be a situational decision made by the runner.
I gotta agree with you here, same mindset here, and it seems its easier to get the hand around the tag.

[Jake Patterson]

Many sites I have come across say that the headfirst slide is pointless and dangerous, including this one

I'm not certain they are pointless, but agree they are more dangerous.

I think there is more force generated when divng head first than going in foot first as you are pushing off your foot when diving head first. So there may be a slight advantage. We train on both, but do not suggest a head first dive until HS. The potential for injury is greater and I do not feel at MS and below there is much to be gained.

[paul5150]

When i am stealing or going to be in a play at a base, if i no its going to be very close and i know where the ball is going, ill go headfirst because i can hook very easily and it seems much easier. I will just go feetfirst if i know im going to make it butjust to keep safe, ill do a popup slide and hope the ball goes to the outfield. But 95% of the time i go headfirst.

***Dont slide headfirst into home*** Use common sense please.

[POHusKy9]

"* Head First Don't. Period.
* Risks of injury include jambed fingers, twisted forearms, scraped face, concussion, or worse. Any questions?"
this site is more for kids about 13 and under...
you would only get a jammed finger if you don't slide right
why do pros take their gloves off and hold them in their hand? it makes a closed fist if they slide headfirst, no jammed fingers.
twisted forearm? i dont even know how the hell you twist a forearm
scraped face? again, more for people who don't know how to slide headfirst, you dont jam your head into the ground, you slide against it
you could possibly get a concussion from getting kicked in the head or something, but who doesnt wear a helmet?

plus, look at this sites hitting section

PICK A STROKE
* Pick one (and ONLY one!)
*Flat-hand one-arm finish (for more power and distance in pulling the ball) [More]
* Shorter, knob-first inside stroke (for quicker reaction and up-the-middle or opposite-field hitting) [More]
* Forward weight shift and downward stroke (to stay on top of the ball and avoid pop-outs)
* Shoulder torque swing (to generate power but delay the bathead release) [More]
* Rotation and a wrist-flick on launch to create a flatter swing (more time in the plane of the ball, but earlier commitment) [More]

[Williamsburg2599]

this site is more for kids about 13 and under...
you would only get a jammed finger if you don't slide right
why do pros take their gloves off and hold them in their hand? it makes a closed fist if they slide headfirst, no jammed fingers.
twisted forearm? i dont even know how the hell you twist a forearm
scraped face? again, more for people who don't know how to slide headfirst, you dont jam your head into the ground, you slide against it
you could possibly get a concussion from getting kicked in the head or something, but who doesnt wear a helmet?

plus, look at this sites hitting section
yea, the hitting section I just completly ignore.... They got a decent scouting, training, and equitment section though.

[Chris O'Leary]

I'm not certain they are pointless, but agree they are more dangerous.

I once had this discussion on another board and a guy told the story of a guy he knew who broke his neck, and was permanently paralyzed, due to a head-first slide.

[Jake Patterson]

I once had this discussion on another board and a guy told the story of a guy he knew who broke his neck, and was permanently paralyzed, due to a head-first slide.

Stories abound about people getting hurt doing this.

[hellborn]

I'm not certain they are pointless, but agree they are more dangerous.

I think there is more force generated when divng head first than going in foot first as you are pushing off your foot when diving head first. So there may be a slight advantage. We train on both, but do not suggest a head first dive until HS. The potential for injury is greater and I do not feel at MS and below there is much to be gained.
Jake, do you teach your kids to get back to the bag on a pickoff attempt headfirst, feetfirst, or both?

[drtybUsch025]

Sliding to me is all reactional. It's all what my body tells me to do (which usally is feet first)

[POHusKy9]

i agree with NEVER sliding into home head first due to shoulder/neck injuries

[CanadianKid]

The only time I ever slide head first is on a dive back to first on a pick-off. I dislocated my shoulder at the end of this season sliding head first into third, however I popped it back in the socket but the ligament was weak so I missed 3 weeks and the playoffs:( :evil :mad:

[Williamsburg2599]

The only time I ever slide head first is on a dive back to first on a pick-off. I dislocated my shoulder at the end of this season sliding head first into third, however I popped it back in the socket but the ligament was weak so I missed 3 weeks and the playoffs:( :evil :mad:Thats very unfortunite, but I still beleve the head-first is nessicary, especally if your a base stealer, where you need as big of a lead as possible. When it goes from a slide to a dive, however, it defintly becomes more dangerous, but sometimes you have to dive back to the base too.

[CanadianKid]

Even though I'm a pretty big guy I steal ALOT of bases and 9 times out of 10 I go in feet first with a pop-up slide, if it's close I usually pull a hook slide. Although I usually only do hook slides on close plays at home because it's hard to grab the bag as opposed to touching the plate.

[drtybUsch025]

The head first slide I think is ideal for home plate. Depending on the age though, when you slide into second I think the pop-up slide is better just for the reason of a ball passing the base

[chd66]

When I played (if I can remember that far back) I used the head-first slide to avoid contact (mainly the tag), slide away from the throw, and reach for the bag. If the runner is going into home with a play from the catcher, never go head first...just like tackling in football.

[Jake Patterson]

Jake, do you teach your kids to get back to the bag on a pickoff attempt headfirst, feetfirst, or both?

Close calls head first - Right arm to the back inside part of the bag - head turned toward right

[2Chance]

If I were sliding into second or third, that would depend on -- as one of us already said -- what my body told me to do, and usually that's a popup, sometimes with a hook in it.

During my final playing days in a softball league, we had somebody standing near third base who was not a good coach. You need to know where the ball is, and he needs to tell you! I ended up sliding headfirst into second, third and home once on a ball hit to right, and each of those, as we know, risks injury. (Of course, in my 20s I was still immortal.) Not only that, but with the basemen all at the ready, there were no clues coming from them. Although it felt good to score on a standup double, when it was all over with I felt like an idiot for not knowing where the ball was and risking injury besides. Later I thought, 'but he should have told me to go in up or down.'

If I were teaching youngsters the proper way to do it, headfirst would be only for evading pickoffs.

[Baseball gLove]

My son goes head first when he's sliding around the tag meaning the defensive player is not straddling the bag. He goes feet first when the defensive player is blocking or straddling the bag/ plate.

[Ursa Major]

Close calls head first - Right arm to the back inside part of the bag - head turned toward rightUh, Jake, do you mean the kid's head should be turned into the center of the diamond? Wouldn't that risk getting hit in the face by an errant throw?

[The Bambino]

Yup! The head first slide is prone to injuries. I was slid head first at home plate and broke my clavicle, but luckily for me, it was a small crack not a complete fracture. so head-first slide is not advisable especially for kids.

[Jake Patterson]

Uh, Jake, do you mean the kid's head should be turned into the center of the diamond? Wouldn't that risk getting hit in the face by an errant throw?

Sorry could have made this clearer.... Back to first base player turns head to right field - away from the throw. This does several things - protects the players face and head and allows him to better see bad throws and errors that go behind the first baseman, errors a runner can advance on (depending on the fences). Errors in front of the first baseman - runner stays.

[wamby]

You are not the only one who played baseball !
Children should be seen but not heard when talking to adults and you are no exception to the rule !

I have to agree with you.