Hitting Tips Baseball
I’m sure you’ve heard many coaches and parents tell you to maintain a level swing. "Just swing level Johnny!" They have good intentions because you would think a completely level swing will prevent you from popping up or grounding out. I would like to provide for you a different perspective on these particular hitting tips baseball.
In all actuality, you should have a slightly up swing. I’m not talking about dipping your shoulder or having other bad hitting mechanics. We all know that if you dip your shoulder you are going to pop up or fly out most of the time. Remember, the pitcher’s mound is 18 inches higher than you are in the batter’s box and add to that the height of the pitcher and the height of his hand as he releases the ball. That means when the pitcher pitches the ball, it’s coming to you on a downward plane. The slightly up swing helps place your bat on the same level as the pitch.
The slightly up swing starts at your chest, goes through the hitting zone and your finish should be high above your head. It’s almost like a "U" shape if you were to draw it. If you had a truly level swing then your hands would start at your chest and end chest high. That’s not how it works. That would be very unnatural. All the upswing does is put your bat and the ball on the same plane during contact.
Keep in mind that you need to keep proper hitting mechanics throughout your at bat. Keep your shoulders parallel to the plate while the ball is being pitched and keep your front shoulder closed and low until contact. If your shoulder leaves and opens up too soon then you are in danger of making a mistake. You aren’t dipping your shoulder or opening your hips up too early either.
The key during your swing is to keep your top hand slightly below the bottom hand on contact. This helps create the upward arc of the bat when it meets the ball. Just watch any Major League Baseball game and observe the hitters’ swings very carefully. You will spot this slightly up swing on almost every player. I recently saw a walk-off single by the Cardinals Colby Rasmus and it was a beautiful swing. With runners on first and second, one out and a 1-1 count, he ripped a fastball with that slightly up swing into right field for a line drive single.
The slightly up swing is actually very natural and my suggestion for you is to practice your swing as often as you can and perfect it. Watch video of big leaguers and see how they do it. Start taking batting practice and employ the hitting tips baseball you just learned.
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
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