This is a sequence shot of a home run by Albert Pujols off Roy Oswalt of Houston in the 2005 NLCS, both side and front views. You can start it by pressing F5 or by Slide Show>View Show. You can move back and forth through the sequence using the left and right arrow keys. Press Esc to stop it.

Pujols has a wide stance, with his weight back toward the back foot. (Many hitters start with weight centered and then push back as pitcher releases ball.) His hands are slightly above shoulder, his front shoulder is angled down slightly, and the bat is angled over shoulder with the barrel slightly forward. His back foot is square. His bottom hand wrist has a slight bend and his top hand has a good bend. His back elbow is even with his shoulders.

Pujols lifts his stride foot a few inches off the ground. There is a slight move by his hands and upper body.

As stride leg extends, there is a slight inward turn of his stride leg, and the movement by hands and upper body continues.

As foot comes down, there is an outward rotation of stride leg and a weight shift by body forward. As toe lands, hands and arms begin swing.

As heel comes down, stride leg and foot opens more, and back leg begins its move. Back elbow starts down. Even though legs show significant opening, shoulders and upper body remain closed.

Upper body opens, and back leg completes its rotation. Note extreme drop of back shoulder along with rise in front shoulder. This rolling under by back shoulder allows path of bat to start leveling off while hands remain close to rear shoulder. Back elbow has snapped down next to side. Front leg has a good bend

Entire body is now facing pitcher. Weight has completely come off back foot, and tip of toe is dragging slightly forward. Back shoulder has reached its extreme low point, and front arm has become straight, almost touching chest. Bat head is still back.

At contact, bat has snapped forward, front leg straightens, and back foot comes forward a few inches. Upper back leg is vertical. Back arm is bent more than normal because pitch was inside.

As bat comes through ball, front leg becomes almost hyper-extended.

As bat continues, there is full extension of both arms. Many high school players never get to this position.

As bat starts back in its follow-through, some weight starts returning over back foot.

Bat comes to natural angle in follow-through

Top hand releases well into follow- through and more weight has now come over back foot, allowing Pujols to finish in perfect balance.

This is a front view of the same swing. Pujols has a good bend in knees, a slight tilt with upper body toward plate. His feet are aligned straight toward pitcher, and his head is facing almost directly toward pitcher (who is to the left of our line of sight). His front shoulder is angled down and in, and his bat is angled a little over 45 degrees.

He lifts his stride foot off ground, heel first.

As his stride foot rises, his upper body tilts more toward the plate.

His lower leg twists a little, his upper body tilts in a little more, and his bat is nearly vertical.

His toe starts down, and his upper body reaches its farthest tilt toward plate. His bat reaches its most vertical position.

The tip of his toe is almost touching as ball comes into view.

His toe is down and his swing is starting. His front leg starts opening, but his upper body is still closed.

His front leg continues to open and his heel snaps down. His upper body is just starting to open.

His whole body explodes, and his arms come into play. His bat is leveling off. His stride foot is open more than 45 degrees,there is still a good bend in front leg and back leg is facing pitcher. His back elbow is close to body, and his front arm is straightening.

His lead arm is now straight and his back elbow is still close to body. Bat head is still back as ball nears the plate.

His bat snaps forward, and his front leg is straightening. There is a slight movement of head toward ball – notice cap bill as you move back and forth between this frame and the previous one. Also, notice the upward movement of front shoulder and forward movement of rear shoulder as upper body rotates.

At contact, his body and legs are facing the pitcher, his front foot is open over 45 degrees, his front leg is straight, his bottom hand is facing down, his top hand is facing up, there is no weight on rear foot, his body is almost vertical, with a slight tilt of upper body toward plate. His head has moved slightly more toward ball.

Just after contact there is further rotation, and head moves slightly more toward ball. His shoulders are now facing pitcher, showing the angle of shoulders.

The ball has left the bat, and his front foot starts rolling to outside.

His back arm has now come to full extension, the ball has left the area, but his head and eyes are still facing the contact area.

Farther into his follow- through, his top hand is releasing, while still at full extension.

Follow-through continues, and his stride foot is now on it outside edge. Some players’ stride foot remains flat during this phase.

Pujols finishes follow- through in perfect balance.