Hitting a baseball with power is the goal of nearly every player who steps onto the field. One of the factors that allows a player to drive the ball deep into the outfield is the ability to generate great bat-head speed prior to impact with the ball. One of the factors that helps generate bat speed is strength. However, there's a lot more to power hitting than big muscles. Factors like wrist snap, rhythm and timing can help you hit with power. There are several drills and exercises you can do to generate power.
Batting Tee Drill
Some hitters like to turn up their noses at the thought of hitting off a batting tee. However, the best hitters realize the tee is a powerful practice tool. It helps a player develop a level swing. When it comes to hitting for power, put a slightly deflated basketball on the tee and take a level swing at the center portion of the ball. Do not stop after contact, the key to learning to hit with power is getting a full follow through. This can be difficult with a basketball because it provides great resistance. Make a conscious effort to finish your follow through. Take 15 swings at the basketball before taking a one-minute break. Repeat the set.
Leaded Bat
Use a leaded bat to swing for five minutes every day before batting practice. Swinging a leaded bat--which may weigh 52 ounces instead of the 31- or 32-ounce bat that most hitters use--will be an exhausting exercise. However, when you allow your muscles to recover and big-up a standard bat, you will have a chance to generate far more bat head speed than you would had you not swung the leaded bat.
Opposite Field Exercise
For average-size players, this is one of the most important factors when it comes to hitting the ball with power. While bigger players may try to pull everything in order to hit with power, many of the best power hitters will get more distance on their long hits by hitting an outside pitch to right field--for a right-handed batter. A batter who tries to pull that pitch may end up hitting a hard grounder to shortstop or a fly ball to left field. By waiting a fraction of a second longer and hitting the ball to the opposite field, you will hit that pitch with as much power as the one you can pull. Go into the batting cage and hit 20 straight pitches to the opposite field. Take a two-minute break and repeat the set.
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