View Full Version : What are the best ways to teach balance?
I'm talking about balancing on the back leg especially at that moment when the back leg is bearing the brunt of body weight,ie, before the stride is complete. As a switchhitter I've noticed that the balancing ability of my right leg, when batting right handed, is much better, than the my balance in my left leg when batting lefty. I've been thinking this is just a "natural ability" thing. Any ideas?
soceric
12-29-2008, 05:27 PM
You never really get "balanced" over that back leg during the stride. If you do get balanced where you can just sit there with the front foot in the air like a pitcher you've really gone too far back and it's a hard place to come out from and to be on time with. If you are spread out enough, and cock that front foot back some you can't help but stride out. The "balance" that you want is really "control".
You never really get "balanced" over that back leg during the stride. If you do get balanced where you can just sit there with the front foot in the air like a pitcher you've really gone too far back and it's a hard place to come out from and to be on time with. If you are spread out enough, and cock that front foot back some you can't help but stride out. The "balance" that you want is really "control".
Right, control is what I want. I have control rhanded and can go to all fields and adjust to offspeed. Lefthanded I have better batspeed but struggle with the slow stuff and I'm dead pull more or less. I think the difference is "control" of that back leg.
soceric
12-29-2008, 06:30 PM
Right, control is what I want. I have control rhanded and can go to all fields and adjust to offspeed. Lefthanded I have better batspeed but struggle with the slow stuff and I'm dead pull more or less. I think the difference is "control" of that back leg.
Since you are right handed you are also right footed, and more coordinated while standing and bearing weight on that right foot too. That is why you feel more comfortable planting that foot as you stride out right handed. My advice left handed is that you need to take the focus off the back foot and lock up the linkage from the back hip down. Find the feeling of pressure in your back hip as your hips cock, and hold it, and lower your self some. It's hard to describe the feeling, but it's that pressure on the crease between your back hip bone, and your crotch. Get into that position early, hold that feeling as you stride out. Don't be all loose and flimsy with that back leg. Don't squat into or out that position as you stride. Just lift that front foot, and let upper body be carried forward out of it until it's time to put the foot back down. Practice that a bunch without swinging. Then practice it while loading the upper body. Then practice while swinging.