Teaching Hitting
Goal: Achieve Maximum Force with Minimal Effort!
Stance
Athletic Position
Ability to Create a Small Rhythm
Plate Coverage
2 Eye Look At The Pitcher
- Feet apart
- Knees bent
- Tilting forward at the waist (e.g. Rear end out slightly)
- Hands back by the back shoulder
Negative Move
Movement Back Towards the Catcher
Purpose to get the bat started and shift weight to inside back leg
Initiated By a Heel Lift
Positive Move
Live and Independent Hands (Smooth and Slow)
Body Position-Lower half shifts behind center of gravity (Hips behind head)
Short, soft movement to a firm front side
Toe Touch
End of Preparation to swing
Hips and Shoulder square to plate
Front shoulder slightly lower than back shoulder
Move to strong hitting position (Strength plane)
Equal bend in knees/Foot at 45 degree angle
Ready Position
Hands end up in a strong throwing position-even or behind back foot (Walk away from hands)
Hands even or slightly inside lead elbow
Back elbow slightly elevated (60-80 degrees) separation between back elbow and hip
Bat angle slightly back
Hips shift under the head
Slight lean to create space and room for elbow
Heel Plant
Weight gets into front heel
Shoulders level or slight tilt
Rotation begins now or slightly before
Slight flexion in front knee
Elbow initiates rotation
Bat Lag
Hands in front of center of gravity (Belly Button)
Barrel pointed toward the catcher
Lead with elbow
Bat head on plane ready to release forces built by addition
Contact
Position that allows you to release the bat with the most force
Strong position: firm front side
Elbow above hands/hands above barrel
Wrist straight
Eyes and head focus on the ball/head down
Optimal angle-90 degrees/forearm to bat
Palm Up/Palm Down
Eyes Parallel to angle of bat at contact
Extension
Bat pointed toward the pitcher
Full extension of arms
Finish
Finish with hands around back shoulder or higher
Rolling of wrist
Release of top hand would happen at this point in the swing
Thoughts
Adjust inside to outside
High to low
Fast to slow