Which foot...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

When a coach says he's gonna break his foot off in your ass, which foot is that?

[XZero771679666304]

Maybe it's a comfortability issue, but I can't imagine hitting the bases with my left foot. when making left turns it seem natural to push off the base with the right foot.

 

Like when making a high speed left turn in a car - all the weight is shifted to the right side. As a matter of simple physics, it seems like hitting the bases with your left foot would cause some balance issues and slow you down.

[swordsman]

Ask OMC. He played ball. Trust me.

 

Really? Did you have to beat that out of him?

 

[in my best Foghorn Leghorn impression]A Yankee beat on a fine Southern gentleman like OMC?!?! You, sir, are crazier than a pole cat in a combine! [/in my best Foghorn Leghorn impression]

Edited June 19, 2007 by swordsman

[Slugger_16]

As has been previously stated, I always learned that it didn't matter. You just step with whichever foot comes up when you get there. We were taught not to stutter step to make it the right foot because it slows you down.

[Warren Brusstar]

Sorry for the confusion...the batter rounding first going to second, which foot should he touch first with?

 

Definitely the right foot, turns you toward 2nd base so your route is more direct, and you get there faster.

 

No. This is wrong.

 

Why the left foot then?

 

Because you make a sharper turn (which is the goal). Using the right foot tends to make the runner drift towards right field (and thus run further).

[Exile on Waveland]

Maybe it's a comfortability issue, but I can't imagine hitting the bases with my left foot. when making left turns it seem natural to push off the base with the right foot.

 

Like when making a high speed left turn in a car - all the weight is shifted to the right side. As a matter of simple physics, it seems like hitting the bases with your left foot would cause some balance issues and slow you down.

 

The left foot seems incredibly awkward to me, too.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Felix was sportin' the left foot on his triple

[soccer10k]

I would think the left foot. That would seem most comfortable to me.

[bhogg]

Go Yard and it won't matter.

[XZero771679666304]

After a cursory search, I found a couple tidbits on the issue:

 

 

I go for stride - as long as he catches the inside corner of the bag - closest to the pitcher, then the corner is being taken properly. However, if the stride favors the right foot then there is less risk of dragging across or tripping on the bag.

 

http://www.webball.com/cms/page3193.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

Rounding First

After taking a quick look, if the ball has gone into the outfield, plan to round first base. Begin a bending turn about halfway to first base. Touch the inside corner of the bag with the outside of the right foot. If reaching second base is not possible, keep an eye on the ball while returning to first base.

 

 

http://www.davislittleleague.org/coaching_runningtips.asp

 

 

 

 

Rounding First Base - (ground ball through the infield)

 

On your quick peek you see the ball is through the infield.

 

About half way toward first base, begin your banana turn.

 

Hit the inside corner of the bag with your outside foot (right) Make the ball stop you.

 

Follow the ball all the way back to the bag

 

 

 

http://www.coachjim.250x.com/baserunning.htm

 

I saw a few more, but the consensus from what I saw seems to be either use whichever foot stride favors, or the right foot.

Edited June 20, 2007 by XZero77

[soccer10k]

Go Yard and it won't matter.

 

Winner.

[soccer10k]

Rounding First

After taking a quick look, if the ball has gone into the outfield, plan to round first base. Begin a bending turn about halfway to first base. Touch the inside corner of the bag with the outside of the right foot. If reaching second base is not possible, keep an eye on the ball while returning to first base.

 

 

http://www.davislittleleague.org/coaching_runningtips.asp

 

 

 

I saw a few more, but the consensus from what I saw seems to be either use whichever foot stride favors, or the right foot.

 

Wow. Davis Little League, eh. Good search. :D

[XZero771679666304]

Rounding First

After taking a quick look, if the ball has gone into the outfield, plan to round first base. Begin a bending turn about halfway to first base. Touch the inside corner of the bag with the outside of the right foot. If reaching second base is not possible, keep an eye on the ball while returning to first base.

 

 

http://www.davislittleleague.org/coaching_runningtips.asp

 

 

 

I saw a few more, but the consensus from what I saw seems to be either use whichever foot stride favors, or the right foot.

 

Wow. Davis Little League, eh. Good search. :D

 

Almost all the little league sites use the same exact thing. Besides, where do most players learn how to run the bases?

[XZero771679666304]

After plugging "baserunning" into Google along with "rounding first", I got a ton of hits, mostly little league, softball and instructional sites. I visited every one on the first 3 pages, and each one that mentioned a method either specified the right foot or using the foot dictated by stride. None specified using the left foot.

[cubbieblue12]

it sometimes depends on what you're comfortable with, but the right foot makes for a quicker turn and fundamentally sound baserunners will almost always round the base with their right foot.

[fiver]

Ask OMC. He played ball. Trust me.

 

Really? Did you have to beat that out of him?

 

OMC gets quite a bit of heat for occassionally mentioning that he played SEC ball, received instruction from SEC coaches.