Arlington, Virginia
Hitting Mechanics*
Practice the mechanics with practice swings and in team hitting
drills. When hitting off live pitching, take a deep breath, focus
on the pitch, and let your muscle memory do the work.
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Bat: If a bat is light enough for you, you can hold the bat out
in your dominant hand with your arm extended parallel to the ground
for about 20-25 seconds.
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Grip: Line up middle knuckles (or slightly more cocked if that
grip feels better); rest bat across callus lines and on fingertips;
do not push bat back into palms.
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Stance: Spread feet slightly farther apart than shoulders.
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Flex knees; keep upper body loose. Be balanced like a basketball
defender.
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Eyes parallel to ground, both eyes facing pitcher, and focused on
pitcher's cap, shifting to the ball when the pitcher's arm comes forward.
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Arms/Hands: Hands should be above the top of the strike zone
(e.g., shoulders) because you swing down to the ball (instead of
sweeping with a level swing, which takes longer).
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The hands, two shoulders, and front elbow form a box.
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The shoulders are relaxed and elbows point down.
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Show Hip and Cock: When the pitcher raises his front leg and shows
his hip, you show your hip so that your front knee, hip, and shoulder
all curl in slightly.
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With "inward turn" or this coiling, your hands move back about three
inches. |
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Cock hands back (c-shaped motion) so that the bat barrel extends
through the slot between your helmet and back shoulder (so bat will
come down during swing). |
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Cocking is easier if bottom wrists are slightly out and up
("radial deviation").
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Stride: When the pitcher moves hand forward to pitch, take a short,
3-inch stride towards the pitcher (or as some experts recommend, 45%
towards the plate).
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Swing: Come down on the ball with barrel above hands for most of
swing.
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Do not sweep or swing level, which takes longer for the barrel to
get to the ball). |
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"Squish the bug" with the back foot so that the knee points towards
the pitcher and your back leg forms an "L" shape during swing. (Front
leg is straight.) |
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The explosion in a swing comes from the hips quickly twisting the
upper body. |
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Bring knob and hands directly towards the pitcher; keep elbows
close to the body.
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Contact: At the contact point, the front arm straightens, and hands
are palm-down, palm-up. Hit pitch on inside 1/3rd of plate 2 feet in
front of plate, middle 1 foot, outside at plate.
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Contact: At the contact point, the front arm straightens, and hands
are palm-down, palm-up. Hit pitch on inside 1/3rd of plate 2 feet in
front of plate, middle 1 foot, outside at plate.
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Follow-Through: Remain balanced as you bring
the barrel of the bat
around to the back of your body; hips fully open to the pitcher; you
end with chin over your rear shoulder.
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*By Casey R. Triggs, Commissioner, Majors I, Arlington Little League,
Spring 2003.
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