The oven mitts post prompted me to look up information on sliding I've been meaning to do. Lets start with my personal bias. As a kid I always tried to be the cool kid. I was the first to have white cleats when it was considered hot dog. Pete Rose went hands first. I’m going to give it a shot. After a few attempts I decided I didn't like infield dirt in my mouth and abrasions on my chest. One time I jocked myself. I had the same problem back in 1970 most players have now. They slide hands first incorrectly.
When I became a coach I started looking at it from an injury standpoint. But starting with 13u (post LL, not legal in LL) my son wanted to be cool and slide hands first. It’s hard to tell a team not to do what you're own kid is doing. I told the players I prefer feet first and can teach them three different slides. They all wanted to go hands first. My son switched to feet first going into home after getting a face full of catcher’s equipment.
The link provides a lot of the information I discovered in one place. Only one study says hands first is faster ... if the runner slides properly and most don't. To me the bigger issue is which way has more injuries that harm baseball players ability to perform.
One thing that drives me nuts is watching MLBers go hands first and be safe until they fly right by the base and get tagged out. I never saw anyone going feet first go by the base.
http://www.baseballnews.com/ol...g_more_dangerous.htm
