Stride - Yes? No? How? What do you think about it?

IMO, it is an individual thing. Personally I was not a stride hitter, but I still had plenty of power and great contact. MY JC coach tried to change it but quickly realized it was not neccessary. To me it is just a timing issue, while I was pretty much a pull hitter, I could still go oppo when needed...but I never got beat by an inside fast ball, at JC or when I played in the Cape.....so again, I think it is just personal, and I teach my kids a wide-stance appraoch at the plate which includes very little if any stride

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Batting Cages Inc.:
I've read a few users' responses here arguing the importance of stride, as well as a few who would argue that there is nothing to be gained from it, while a lot is risked...............This is just a quick video I found explaining a few different types of stride, just to add to the discussion[QUOTE]

I agree with lefthookdad.....The reality is you can use any approach you want, but in the end you need to get to a good loaded position before initiating the actual swing. If you slow video down, every big leaguer gets to a classic position after loading with 50/50 weight on both legs and hands/bat at the proper postion (example, 2:36 of BCI's video). This is something that many younger players have trouble doing. The classic approach is to load by walking your hands and front foot away from each other so that your front foot lands with now 50/50 weight on both legs and your hands/bat at the proper loaded position (knob at catcher/bat angled but not wrapped, etc.).

In theory, you could set-up from the start in this position and have success. However, properly loading (including the step)as the pitcher is getting ready to relase the ball is more natural and helps with timing and a routine.

I agree with the fact that it is an individual thing. I think to many guys get wrapped up into "their way of teaching". I will agree that VERY few MLB guys no stride but a couple current and former players do. Out of my 9 guys 6 stride, 2 use a really extremely early stride, and 1 guy does not stride, he has a wide base and rocks back. In regards to the striders, they all stride in different manners. One is a toe toucher, two have high leg kicks. I think the problems starts when a coach does not know how to work in the context of the player or when the player is doing something that is counter productive.

Stride isn't important. Getting the pelvis open while the hands are back is. Don't let a stride interfere with getting open.

I think if a hitter is having success without a stride, fine, don't mess with it (there are of course examples of hitters who stride little or not at all and have great success (Pujols for example).  But, I think there are definitely advantages to having a stride.  It is relaxing to a hitter (ease of motion vs. stiffness), is a natural timing mechanism, and helps a player into a powerful/at ease swing motion (and gets weight off of back foot).  An absolute must is making sure the front foot is down in time (meaning the stride needs to start early).  Examples of exaggerated strides are aplenty, but some of my favorites are Morneau, Pedroia and Bautista...

One term that drives my son's hitting coach nuts is "timing"  His first question to my son when they met (after about 20 hits off the tee) was, "why do we stride?"  My son said to help in timing.  The coach asked what pitch was he timing and was he a mind reader.  Then he said, lets see the ball and hit it.  Sounds simple, but actually helped my son as now he just lets his body do what feels right to him.  The biggest thing is getting the hips open fast.

FZS,

In the interest of provoking thought... isn't the notion of getting his hips open fast (enough) pretty much the same type of thought as getting the stride foot down in time?  In effect, both the "stride for timing" and the "get hips open fast" are specific sequential timing thoughts as opposed to what feels right, aren't they?

I agree with cabage, you have to get your front foot down in order to turn your hips(timing)...not sure what your sons's coach thinks that is.....lol

I don't think the stride is necessary, but can serve as a useful "trigger" to 1) create some seperation between your body and hands (I've even heard some pro hitting coaches talk about the stride as the "walk away," meaning you are walking away from your hands to help create a somewhat of a coiling effect) and 2) it can be useful in creating weight transfer from a rear leg loaded position to a more equal weight distribution on both legs before the hips start to rotate, which I think is necessary to generate max power.

 

Actually I boxed for many years, which I have to credit my hand speed to, that also contributed to my hitting style.  I was a lift and place, or pick up and put it down hitter with no stride.  I stated that I agreed with cabbage in the fact that you have to have your foot down, I did not say you had to open, slide or do anything else with it.....but, I would like to see a hitter rotate their hips when their front foot is not down