Although MLB (Major League Baseball) players make it look easy, in reality baseball is a tough sport and requires a lot of conditioning, muscle memory, and eye-arm coordination. A player needs hundreds of hours of practice to build skills in order to succeed in the position he occupies. Batting is also not an exception. Swinging a baseball bat with good power and accuracy requires high technique. You can make learning easier by breaking it down into three main components: stance, grip, and swing.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Having the Right Attitude
Step 1. Straighten your legs under your shoulders
Spread your feet wide or slightly wider than your shoulders. The feet should be parallel to each other and just below the shoulders. If you are right-handed, the left side of your body is facing the pitcher, and your head is pointing in the direction the ball came from. If you are left-handed, the right side of your body is facing the thrower. Most importantly, your attitude should be comfortable.
Stand on the base of your toes to make your movements faster and your stance more reactive
Step 2. Bend your knees
Keep your knees bent and your weight on the bases of your toes. Don't crouch or crouch too low. Make sure there is some resilience in your knees and hips. Lowering your center of gravity will help you generate swing force and stabilize your body as you hit.
- You must maintain a firm, grounded stance so as not to disturb the balance.
- Don't lean your buttocks or upper body too far.
Step 3. Trace your back foot
Keep both feet firmly planted on the ground until you are ready to start swinging the bat. The firmer your stance, the greater the punching force your body produces. When you start hitting, take small steps with the front foot and follow up with twisting the back foot. However, both feet must remain locked until the bat touches the ball.
Your body weight should be slightly above your back leg to prepare your body for the next swing step
Step 4. Keep your body relaxed and ready
Flex your muscles and get ready to move your body in one smooth motion. If you're too tense, your movements will be erratic, reducing the speed and accuracy of your strokes. Shake your shoulders, hips and ankles before getting ready to hit. Always remind yourself to stay relaxed and ready to hit.
Researchers found that athletes moved faster and smoother when they were relaxed
Part 2 of 3: Obtaining the Right Grip and Body Position
Step 1. Place your hands in the correct position
For an effective grip, lay the grip on the bat along the fingers of both hands, then clench your fists to grip the bat. Do not hold the bat in the palm of your hand as you will not be able to flex and rotate your wrist while swinging the bat. Keep a light grip on the bat until you are about to hit the ball to maximize hit speed and reactivity.
- Do not grip the handle of the bat too tightly as this will dull the swing. You should leave some distance between the little finger of your lower hand and the bat knob.
- Always remember to grip the bat with your fingers, not your entire palm.
Step 2. Row your knuckles
Arrange the knuckles so that they line up along the bat handle. The bat will shift in your hand as you swing, and your hands will naturally circle the grip. Use your fingers to press down on the bat and steady it in your hand. However, don't grip it too tightly.
If you don't feel comfortable holding the bat with your knuckles lined together, try turning your palms inward until your middle knuckles are pointing in the same direction. This grip is called a box grip
Step 3. Let the bat float over your shoulders
Your bat points up and forms an angle over your shoulders instead of leaning against your back. Keep the bat off your shoulders and ready to hit. Your bat should absolutely not touch your back, neck, or shoulders.
- The grip angle of the bat should be around or above 45 degrees.
- The swing will be easier to enter if there is already muscle tension on the bat. Your swing will be slower the earlier your bat came to a full stop.
Step 4. Keep your body in a straight line
Place your center of gravity on the soles of your feet and keep your toes, knees, hips, and shoulders in line. Always keep your chin on the mound so you can always keep an eye on the ball. From this position, your body will explode and disperse when the ball is within hitting range.
If any part of your body deviates from your straight posture, your speed, power, and swing control will decrease
Part 3 of 3: Swinging the Bat Well
Step 1. Move your foot one step forward to increase strength
After the ball is out of the hands of the thrower, step slightly with the front foot. Just keep your feet forward 5-8 cm, and make sure you don't break your straight stance or lose core muscle tone as you step. Swing strength is increased by adding force to the hip and shoulder motion.
Be careful not to lose your balance while walking. This move should be fast, short, and create a position with a solid base to hit the ball
Step 2. Begin the swing with your pelvis
Rotate your pelvis in one quick motion to generate swing momentum. When twisting, don't let your pelvis swing or deviate from a straight posture. If you are left-handed, rotate your pelvis clockwise, and vice versa for right-handed players. Most of the power of a good swing comes from the pelvis.
- The swing should start at the hips, followed immediately by the shoulders. Many players get injured while trying to "force" the ball with sudden twisting of the shoulder.
- Try to stay upright as you rotate so you don't get off the axis.
Step 3. Don't take your eyes off the ball
Drop your chin and keep your head low during your swing. Your line of sight must always be locked on the ball, from the start of the throw until the moment the ball hits the bat, or you strike out. Maintain focus and be prepared to determine the timing of the swing. Lower your chin to keep your head in line with the rest of your body as you'll be bending over and bending your waist slightly as you get ready to hit.
- Do not tilt your head too much when lowering your chin. If your eyes are not the same level, your perspective will be disturbed and reduce your ability to hit the ball.
- During batting practice, pay close attention to the path of the ball to become more adept at monitoring the movement of the ball as it comes towards you.
Step 4. Rotate your shoulders into the swing
Bring your shoulders across your body and follow your pelvis. Stay relaxed until just before the bat hits the ball. The whole body should be unwrapped like a spring, starting from the legs all the way to the hips, and ending with the turns of the shoulders.
The rod of the bat should remain firm during the first part of the swing. The rule of thumb is that the farther the tip of the bat is from your body, the less support you have
Step 5. Follow through to hit the ball as far as possible
Once the bat hits the ball, continue following the swing until the bat extends over the other shoulder. At the end of the round, your upper body should be facing the thrower. A good follow-up movement will add force to the ball so that it floats out of the field.
- The follow-up movement maximizes rotational momentum, stopping the ball moving forward and returning it as hard as possible.
- Some players prefer to keep both hands on the bat during follow-up moves. Others like to let the upper hand release the bat and swing like a backhand. Try both, and choose the one that feels most comfortable.
Tips
- Wear batting gloves to reduce vibration stress from the bat and prevent painful blisters.
- If you're having trouble hitting accuracy, visit a baseball batting practice. Hitting a ball thrown by the machine repeatedly will train you to keep your eyes on the ball and improve hand-eye coordination.
- Incorporate some strength and conditioning exercises into your exercise program. Increasing your upper body strength will increase the power of your punch.
- Keep your head down while swinging. This will keep the body in the correct position.
- Practice timing to sharpen your instincts regarding when to start a swing. The power of your swing will be maximized if you wait for the ball to go deep, approximately in line with you.
- Practice hitting techniques regularly to increase your level of play.
Warning
- Don't let the follow-up move so excessively that it throws you off balance. Keep your spin tight and in control.
- Rely on correct movement when hitting. Injuries usually occur if you swing too hard from the shoulder or use poor technique.
- Beware of wild balls! Don't let the ball hurt you!
- Make sure there are no disturbances in the area around you before swinging the bat. Other players can roam near you.
