Hitting

There are many different styles of hitting, but there are a few consistencies when it comes to point of contact Hands in front of the bat Firm Front side Center balanced, head over the back leg Heel over Toe Back elbow in close to the body degrees on the shoulder level

You will all be committed to these consistencies

Grip and Stance

Most great hitters do not line up their door knocker knuckles. Rather, they use what is often referred to as an axe grip. Bottom hand should have a firm grip on the bat, and the top hand should be more relaxed.

Not a cookie-cutter approach Shoulders level

Shoulders level Back toe Elbows similar height

Stride and Load

STRIDE: It doesn’t necessarily matter how you stride/load, as long as your hands end up at the top of the zone, your head stays level, and your timing is correct with that certain pitcher. There are typically 3 different types of strides/loads – Kick, Tap, No Stride. Kick Tap No Stride

Very good load, kept “L” with top hand/arm Kept angles with front arm/bat

Bad load Hands dropped Lost his front side “L” and hands are below his shoulders

Guy from previous slide (Hands dropped Lost his front side “L”) Front foot roll-over = over rotation by shoulders Doesn’t get heel over toe on backside Collapsing front leg = No power in hip rotation Hooking!!!

Bad load

No pivot on backside, no lock-out of front side = over rotation with shoulders

Elbow in the Slot “inside circle”

Back elbow close to body, just above your hip = slot

Inside Circle is made by your hands Outside Circle is made by your bat head The tighter the inside circle = less distance on swing = quicker = less casting/hooking = more time to watch pitch = better pitch selection = more production

Good pivot by the hips, but bad “bar arm” Hands casting away from the body (big inner circle) Bad head flopping (swinging around the ball)

Inside circle, Elbow in slot

Point of contact “Inside the ball” “Firm front side” “toe over heel” “hands in front of barrel”

BALANCE: You must have balance in your body at the point of contact with a strong and firm front leg. Watch players who seem to hit the ball out in front – such as A-Rod – they are still at a balance point at impact

Point of contact “Inside the ball”

Inside part of the ball Hit the ball at the 7 On a clock

Inside or behind the ball * hands have not activated, which prevents rolling-over. * allows for extension after contact

If you hook the ball by hitting the outside part, Your wrists have already activated, and you are pulling the bat through the zone, and there is no snap of the wrist (bat head speed), and no acceleration through contact Spin force = hooked foul

Extension long through contact Point * keeps front side on ball * prevents hitting across ball

No extension through contact Swinging across the ball Bat being pulled across the ball Ball will roll-off the end of the bat = spinning toward right field line

Inside half of ball!

Prince Albert stays inside the ball better than anyone

Point of contact “firm front side” “heel over toe” Backside “L” (knee below hip)

BALANCE: You must have balance in your body at the point of contact with a strong and firm front leg. Watch players who seem to hit the ball out in front – such as A-Rod – they are still at a balance point at impact “firm front side”“heel over toe”Backside “L” (knee below hip)

Watch this video of Albert Pujols and his balance through the swing. His head remains centered over his belt from stride to contact.

Look where the knee is located

Slot Heel/toe Knee Firm front leg

Driving hands inside

It’s all there

Point of contact “hands in front of barrel”

BARREL BEHIND THE HANDS…: Much like the throwing arm is the last thing to explode through your throwing motion, the barrel should be the last thing through your hitting motion. Hips-Hands-Barrel. Keeping it back then using the torque you’ve created to whip it through gives life to your bat and power with your hips.

Hands in front of barrel Elbow in slot in front of barrel Firm front side Heel over toe If hands are in front of barrel, wrists have not activated = no roll-over

Hands in front of barrel Elbow in slot Firm front side Heel over toe If hands are in front of barrel, wrists have not activated = no roll-over Knee driven forward, not knee driven back

Do not want to swing across the ball *caused by no forward movement on stride. Player goes up and down, pulls shoulders off ball, and swings across the pitch

Long extension through point of contact *short to it = inside circle * long through it = extension through contact point *Short to it, long through it”

GET EXTENDED: Once your barrel is through the zone, get your hands extended. You can’t hit with them in your chest – by extending them, you keep your bat through the hitting zone longer and use the entire length of torque you’ve generated.

Head down, full extension through point of contact Hands still not rolled-over

Full extension without wrist roll-over

High finish chest at pitcher