Hitting

There are many different styles of hitting, but there are a few consistencies when it comes to point of contact

You will be committed to these consistencies, or you will not play

Knocker Knuckles aligned

Still see the 45° angle with the grip, about to “push and pull” with the hands

Set-upSquare to plate

Elbows similar height

Shoulders level = head/eyes level

Proper grip - -Knocker knuckles - 45° - out of palm

Hands at chin level Relaxed shoulders Relaxed grip Weight 60/40 Bat at 45° angle/ parallel with armpit to elbow angle of front arm

Consistent similarities

Shoulders are level = eyes are level at the pitcher

Not a cookie-cutter approach

Shoulders level

Back-toe inside turn

Shoulders level

Shoulders level

Back toe

Elbows similar height

Different style but still very Consistent with certain areas

Stride and Load

Very good load,

kept “L” with top hand/arm

Kept angles with front arm/bat

Bad loadHands droppedLost his front side “L”

Very good load

Remember this guy?(Hands droppedLost 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

Stride and Load

Keep the “L” and Stay parallel !!

1

2

34

Hands move back and up on load in a backward letter “C”Motion.* Then hands move forward and down to ball maintaining closeness to body “inside path”

C

Elbow in the Slot“inside circle”

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

Elbow in the 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”

“locked-out front side”“toe over heel”

“hands in front of barrel”

Point of contact “Inside the ball”

Inside part of the ball

Hit the ball at the 7 On a clock

121

2

3

45

67

8

9

1011

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!

Inside pitch

NO HOOKING!!!!!

Point of contact “locked-out front side”

“toe over heel”Backside “L” (knee below hip)

Look where the knee is located

Look where the knee is located

Look where the knee is located

Some call this backside “L”

Look where the knee is located

Slot

Heel/toe

Knee

Locked-out

Driving hands inside

It’s all there

Point of contact “hands in front of barrel”

Hands in front of barrel

Elbow in slot in front of barrel

Locked-out 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

Locked-out front side

Heel over toe

If hands are in front of barrel, wrists have not activated = no roll-over

Knee driven forward, not kneel 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”

Head down, full extension through point of contact

Hands still not rolled-over

Full extension without wrist roll-over

High finish chest at pitcher

Finish high, with chest at pitcher