Hitting Mechanics: Foot Plant and Toe Touch

By Alex Eisenberg
March 23, 2008

Toe Touch

Toe Touch is defined as the first point in which the batter's foot touches the ground. The exact point of toe touch (and foot plant for that matter) can be difficult to pick up, but you should have a general idea of where toe touch first occurs. Below is a clip of Derrick Lee's toe touch which precedes his foot plant:

Derrick Lee

Foot Plant

Foot Plant is defined as the point in which the batter's heel touches the ground. Below is a clip of Carlos Lee going into foot plant:

Carlos Lee

The importance of the toe touch and foot plant really relate to a hitter's timing and efficiency. The hips should begin opening at toe touch and as the batter plants his foot, the hips are "unloaded". I'll get into the entire process in my next article by using Prince Fielder as an example.

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Credit for sources used in this article: MLB.com

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