A closed front foot into contact is one of those things that everybody teaches, but I'm pretty sure most people don't know why. Or, if they think they know why it's a good idea, they are probably wrong.

Closed Front Foot into Contact

There are a number of problems with a very common piece of advice for hitters.

History

Does Ted Williams keep his front foot closed in this clip?

Ted Williams

Logic

As I discuss in Williams, Lau, and the Front Foot, the hips must rotate into the Point Of Contact, and a closed front foot can interfere with this process, by design.

Injuries

As I discuss in my theory of lower body injuries in hitters, I believe there is a link between the common advice to hitters to keep the front foot closed and the lower body injuries so many hitters experience.