| Every baseball player loves to hit the ball hard and | | | | the toe. Many coaches describe the action of the |
| far. The power required to hit the baseball deep | | | | back foot as a turn of the "shoe laces to the |
| comes from the generation of maximum bat | | | | pitcher". The back foot action is not nearly as |
| speed. The generation of bat speed is created by | | | | important as the front foot. The one thing that |
| the correct use of the lower body, hips and | | | | must be monitored is that the back foot does not |
| hands. Four key elements are required to make | | | | travel forward. The back foot should stay where |
| the batting swing more powerful. This article | | | | it was at the beginning of the swing, but the heel |
| outlines and explains those key elements.Those | | | | should lift and the foot turn to free the back side |
| key elements are: | | | | and to allow for maximum hip and torso rotation. |
| 1) The Batter Uses the Front Leg as Leverage to | | | | 3) The Batter Keeps of the Hands Close to the |
| Generate Maximum Bat Speed. - What is leverage | | | | Body. The Batter Keeps the Hands on the |
| in the baseball swing? Why is leverage important? | | | | Shortest Power Path to the Ball. - The power |
| How is leverage generated? Leverage in a baseball | | | | track for the hands is a path that starts above |
| swing is a resistance point or stationary object | | | | the ball and close to the body. The "power track" |
| that stops forward movement. The front foot | | | | is a short compact swing that is directly to the |
| acts as the lever and provides leverage to the | | | | ball. To generate great bat speed the batter must |
| swing. For this leverage to occur the batter must | | | | drive the knob and bury it at the power contact |
| allow the ball pass front foot. The front foot | | | | position. Keeping the hands closer to the body |
| should be closed with the toes pointed toward the | | | | also keeps the hands inside the ball. |
| plate to supply maximum leverage to the swing. | | | | 4) The Batter Achieves Maximum Extension |
| This leverage is the force against which the | | | | Through the Ball. - The batter that keeps the bat |
| batter rotates the hips against. The front leg | | | | on the ball plane as long as possible is able to |
| must be strait and planted to allow the hips to | | | | generate the maximum amount of power |
| turn. | | | | possible. The track or path of the bat should be |
| 2) The Batter Generates Maximum Rotational | | | | downward until it gets to the balls plane. When the |
| "Torque of the Hips". - I use the term "Hip | | | | bat gets on an even plane with the ball, the batter |
| Torque" to describe the power the hips add to | | | | should then drive the hands forward through the |
| the swing. Batters must rotate the hips to | | | | ball. This power extension has the top hand in a |
| achieve maximum bat speed. To get the | | | | palm down position and the bottom hand in a |
| maximum hip turn the front foot should be kept | | | | palm up position. This forward extension or drive |
| in a closed position. If the front foot is allowed to | | | | through the baseball is a key element of |
| rotate or is in an open position at any point during | | | | generating power. |
| the swing, there will be a loss of hip energy and a | | | | I hope that this article was informative and helpful |
| reduction of power in the swing. | | | | to you. I appreciate you taking the time to read. |
| The back foot is often lifted or turned up onto | | | | Have a great day, Nick. |