Batting Tips For Baseball


There are a few different options when it comes to batting stances and you need to make sure you find one that is comfortable for you.  The more comfortable you feel in the batter’s box, the more hits you’ll get and that’s why we’re brushing up on our batting tips for baseball.

The batting stance I prefer and teach others to have is the balanced middle-of-the-box stance.  This stance is where your feet are shoulder width apart and completely even.  Your feet would be in line with the pitcher’s mound.  You would also find yourself in the middle of the box with even distance between you and everything else in the box.  The other fundamentals remain the same such as bending slightly at the knees, holding your bat in a vertical position slightly angled over your back shoulder and your head pointed at the pitcher. 

I like this stance the best because it gives you the most balance possible.  You also have equal opportunity to catch up to fastballs, wait on curveballs and lay down a bunt anytime you want.  Many of you have succeeded with this type of stance but others struggle with it.  Maybe you aren’t comfortable, or maybe you’re pulling the ball way too often or maybe even hitting it the other way too much.  There are a few other options out there that I would recommend for emergency situations.

Open stance.  The open stance has the ability to protect you from inside pitches.  Your back foot can remain in the same place as you would with a middle-of-the-box stance, but your front foot would be pointing more towards the area between the pitcher’s mound and the second base area.   Your swing remains the same.  The only thing that changes is that front foot.

Closed stance.  The closed stance protects you from pitches on the outside part of the plate.  Some hitters have a hard time reaching those pitches so their solution might be to close their stance a bit.  The back foot also remains the same as a middle-of-the-box stance except that the front foot is now pointing more in the direction of third base. 

In either case your swing remains the same.  A smooth, unchanging, fluid swing with all of your other hitting mechanics in place too.  You really need to feel comfortable at the plate if you want to have hitting success.  Your body as a whole should feel calm and relaxed.  If you feel tense and your muscles are tight then your swing is going to be a touch too jerky. 

Sometimes the pitcher wants to dictate the pace of the game and make pitches as soon as possible.  Once you step foot into the batter’s box, the pitcher is already in his windup.  If that makes you too tense, you need to communicate properly with the umpire and your coaches.  Let the ump know that you would like time to set up in the box.  Hold your hand up to the ump as you dig in.  I’m not saying to go MLB on them and adjust your batting gloves for five minutes.  You need just enough time to settle in and feel comfortable. 

For more in-depth information about hitting stances or any other batting tips for baseball, check out our other resources that have been custom made just for you.

My years of experience playing and teaching baseball hitting will help you with the challenge of learning how to hit a baseball correctly.  Articles such as the one you just read will inform and motivate you to a better understanding of proper baseball hitting whether you are a coach, parent or ballplayer.  Check back here for upcoming
baseball hitting tips articles and e-mail us any questions or comments.

Jeff Wise

info@baseballhittingtipsonline.com