| | | | | serves two purposes: |
| The Baseball Swing | | | | |
| Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in | | | | · Generates power |
| sports. You have to hit a round ball with a round | | | | · Helps you time the pitch |
| bat, squarely. And that round ball is often dancing, | | | | |
| tailing into you, cutting away, curving, splitting, | | | | To load, make a slight movement, like picking up |
| sinking, knuckling, or sliding. You have a split | | | | or dropping your hands, or coiling your front |
| second to decide whether you should swing at it, | | | | shoulder back. Avoid dramatic movements, like |
| take it, or get out of its way. So how do | | | | the sledgehammer waggle of Gary Sheffield. It |
| big-leaguers do it? How does Manny Ramirez | | | | works for him, but for most players, it can only |
| make it look so easy? How does Ichiro collect | | | | slow the swing down. |
| 200-hit seasons as if they are baseball cards? | | | | |
| How does Chase Utley consistently hit line drives | | | | Power Turn |
| you can hang your laundry on? They all have | | | | Move the barrel of the bat directly to the ball. |
| great swings. | | | | Don’t loop, or “uppercut,” and |
| | | | | don’t cast the bat as if you were casting a |
| The baseball swing is made up of a few key | | | | fishing line. Lead with your hips, rotating them |
| components. | | | | toward the pitcher. Keep your hands back until |
| | | | | you finish your hip rotation. This will help you |
| Grip | | | | adjust to different kinds of pitches and different |
| The grip is important because it’s the only | | | | locations. Most of all, maintain your balance and |
| physical contact you make with the bat. Hold the | | | | keep your head level, and looking right at the ball, |
| bat in your fingertips, not your palms. When you | | | | throughout the swing. |
| hold the bat in your palms, you restrict your | | | | |
| swing. When you hold your bat in your fingertips, | | | | Follow Through |
| you can swing freely and easily, with maximum | | | | After contact, extend the bat toward the pitcher, |
| range of motion. | | | | then let the barrel swing around you naturally |
| | | | | – it’s important to finish your swing. |
| Stance | | | | |
| When you step into the batter’s box, stand | | | | Practice |
| with your feet no more than shoulder width apart. | | | | Of course, practice makes perfect when it comes |
| Stay relaxed and bend your knees. Hold your | | | | to baseball hitting. Hitting drills in baseball can help |
| hands in a comfortable position, right around | | | | you master the swing. In addition, there are tools |
| shoulder height. | | | | available to help you practice with a purpose. |
| | | | | |
| Stride | | | | One of the most important aspects of the swing |
| When the pitcher is about to deliver the ball, take | | | | is balance. Tools are available from companies like |
| a short, balanced stride, no more than 2-3 inches | | | | A-Game Technology ( to help you maintain your |
| straight toward the pitcher. Some players, like | | | | balance. The Batter’s Edge training tool, for |
| David Wright, just pick up their front heel and put | | | | instance, teaches you to take a straight stride, |
| it back down. When you stride, it is important to | | | | stay balanced, and keep your head level. By |
| keep your head level. If you don’t, the ball will | | | | standing on its narrow platform, you have to stay |
| appear to bounce up and down on its way to | | | | balanced. The Batter’s Edge is one of the |
| home plate, because that’s exactly what | | | | most useful tools among baseball training |
| your eyes are doing. | | | | equipment. |
| | | | | |
| Load | | | | So, remember to stay balanced, keep your head |
| The load is the trigger of your swing. When you | | | | level, move the barrel of the bat directly to the |
| throw a punch, you don’t just move your fist | | | | ball, and follow through. And most of all, practice. |
| forward, you coil it backward first. The same | | | | Before you know it, you’ll be taking your |
| applies to the baseball swing. This coiling action | | | | game to a new level. |