The Ultimate Guide to “Squish the Bug”
Baseball and Fastpitch Softball
This The Ultimate Guide to “Squish the Bug” article was excerpted from our new book, The Ultimate Hitting Fundamentals, Techniques, and Strategy Guide (click for book details).
For recommendations on how and when to use various training methods (dry, heavy bag, pylos, tee, toss, live, machine, etc.) and shop for practical and durable equipment, click on the link Hitting Training Methods and Aids.
Introduction
Squish the bug is a way of introducing core rotation to younger players. First, the hitter pivots on the ball of the rear foot. Then, as they do so, they push the ball of the foot into the ground, thereby squashing the bug. This action has the effect of turning the hips.
Coaches separate into two different “parties” based on how they believe successful hitters implement core rotation:
Party 1 – Squish the Bug
Squish the Bug
Some coaches proclaim weight never transfers forward. Instead, hitters swing with at least half of their weight remaining on the rear foot.
An anonymous coach:
“The weight transfer is from back to the middle. The back foot remains in solid contact with the ground. The hitter must not let the bug escape before he squashes it!” (Anonymous, Hitting Forum, 2012)
Now a Major League Baseball Hitting coach:
“First, the lower half. The back knee will start to press and turn inward once the swing is started. Many young hitters try to extend the back knee, which is wrong. “Squash the bug” is a good saying because it makes the hitter use his back knee to transfer the power and weight to the hands. A hitter never wants to be out on his front foot. He wants to have his weight balanced throughout his swing.” (Major League Hitting Philosophy, n.d.)
Party 2 – Un-weight Rear Foot
Many other coaches assert “squish the bug” causes hitters to:
- Hit with substantial weight on their rear foot.
For a hitter to forcefully engage their hips into the swing, weight must come off the rear foot. The forward transfer of bodyweight (during the approach phase) coming up against a firm front side enables un-weighting the back foot. When this happens, core rotation can occur smoothly without resistance.
- Lose the energy built up during gather and approach.
The energy built up by the legs working against the ground must be transferred smoothly to the rotating hips. When squish the bug turns the rear ankle, which turns the back knee, which turns the hips, this breaks the energy chain created by previous kinetic links. Just as the driver who “rides the brakes” while pushing the gas pedal, squish the bug acts as a “brake” to core rotation.
Squish the Bug Easily Misperceived
Whether the hitter turns to toe or pivots on the ball of the back foot can be challenging to identify when viewed at game speed. Body mass rebounds off the firm front side very quickly, bouncing the hitter into squishing the bug position during the follow-through (image above bottom). But with the advent of clear, slow motion video, great hitters can be seen transferring nearly all of their weight to the front leg during their approach. With few exceptions, the rear foot becomes un-weighted by contact (image above top).
Pure Rotational
A small minority of professional and college hitters have a squish the bug position at contact. With experienced hitters, this is usually the result of a “pure” rotational strategy where there is little or no forward (linear) movement of the torso during the hitter’s approach. At least half of bodyweight remains on the rear foot at contact.
Yes, Barry Bonds hit off his back foot. He also used circular hand path, top hand torque, bottom hand torque, and circular extension techniques to generate tremendous bat speed (learn more in our new hitting fundamentals book The Ultimate Guide to Hitting Fundamentals, Techniques, and Strategies). Barry’s hitting style was and still is unique in many ways.
Squish the Bug – Final Thoughts
Over 95% of High-Level hitters transfer nearly their entire body weight to the front leg at the moment of impact.
Un-weighted Rear Foot at Contact (Universal)
The hips leading rear ankle and shoulders followed by a pivot to toe is one of the defining techniques of the High-Level swing. Golfers, quarterbacks, pitchers, tennis players, and many other athletes also release or make contact with nearly all weight on the front foot.
Pertinent Drills Available in our Hitting Training Guide
The Ultimate Hitting Training Guide (click the link for details about our new drills book):
- Tool XIV: Universal Leg Drills, Drill IV – Rear Knee Hinge Drill.
- Tool XIV: Universal Leg Drills, Drill VI – Un-Weight Rear Foot Drill.
Other Hitting Debate Articles You May Find Interesting
Click the links below for further free articles:
Batting Stride: How Aggressive?
Out Front Hitting vs Let the Ball Travel?
Building Rome Series Books: Building the High-Level Swing Series
Click Building the High-Level Swing Series to learn more about our new book series containing a detailed and comprehensive description of 100 hitting fundamentals and 140 step-by-step drills that efficiently construct the batting swing from the ground up.
In the Building Rome Series of books, the construction of skills are in functional order, providing a “roadmap” to becoming a great hitter.
All baseball and fastpitch softball players can “climb the Roman Coliseum steps” to become powerful and productive hitters.
Enjoy the quest!
Ok, squish the bug or not! Your thoughts are appreciated! Submit a comment (no email required) or send us any question using our contact page and we will get right back to you. All the best – Gary.