specifics in Spear fighting combat

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

And as i said, they couldn't have closed their front at 100 meters from the enemy, because such a closing of frontage, even with a small army, would require reducing the width by 1500 feet over 500 files, or 750 feet over 250 files, which would be a very small phalanx but a crippling distance to close laterally. I regularly need to open and close skirmishers and I would never do it closer than 300 meters to the enemy--otherwise, somebody kills you while you're trying to change your spacing.
If this doesn't make sense, I'll try a diagram next!

Hm,sorry I think I will need a diagram...Either I'm not grabing something basic or there is some mistake in our understanding of how a phalanx deployed.
I never said they would switch to close order only about 100 m from the enemy. The typical hoplite battles took place in rather flat plains. This is the case with Mantineia,Marathon,Plataea and the rest of the big battlefields. At the point that there was no need for further maneuvering was needed and the two phalanxes were one oposite to the other,before the final charge,the phalanx was doubling its thickness by halfing its depth and keeping its lenght the same. Usually there was considerable time for both phalanxes to do so. The piknosis was done after the phalanx had taken its fighting position. The Spartans in Mantineia,we are told, managed to form their battle line directly from a marching column,even though they were surprized by the enemy who was already charging! This is discipline! Even in this case,they would first for open order with 16 deep and then close order 8 deep. However this is a bit hypothetical because due to lack of time they most probably formed the close order almost emediately. I apologise if I'm repeating common ground here,but I didn't understad where your doubt lies.
Khaire
Giannis