Hitting the long ball in baseball is complicated. While you need to generate great bat-head speed in order to send the ball deep and over the outfielders' heads --- and perhaps over the fence --- it is not a matter of simply swinging the bat as hard as you can, or lifting weights to get stronger. Hitting for power is about hand-eye coordination, timing, understanding what the pitcher wants to do, and developing an excellent swing.
Start With Your Weight on Your Back Leg
In order to drive the ball for power, your momentum needs to be coming forward as you make contact with the baseball. If you start out with your weight on your back leg, and stride toward the pitcher, you will meet the force of his pitch with the force of your bat. If you make contact with the ball as your momentum is transferring from your back leg to your front side, you have an excellent chance of hitting the ball with excellent power. If your timing is off, and you are too late or too early, a weak pop-up or a soft grounder will result.
Know the Pitcher
Make an attempt to study the pitcher before you come up to the plate. If you are playing at the high-school level or above, you will likely have scouting reports at your disposal that will tell you whether your opponent is a power or finesse pitcher, what his best pitches are, and how he likes to attack the hitter. For example, if you know you are facing a fastball pitcher who likes to get ahead in the count and then make the batter swing at borderline pitches, go up to the plate ready to swing at a first-pitch fastball. On the other hand, if you are facing a breaking-ball pitcher, move several inches up in the batter's box to put yourself in a position to hit the ball hard.
Hit the Ball Where It Is Pitched
Many baseball players think they have to pull the ball in order to hit home runs. However, many of the game's best home-run hitters --- including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron --- scored a good percentage of their home runs by hitting the ball where it's pitched. If you are a right-handed hitter and you get a fastball on the outside part of the plate, it's as if the ball has a "Hit Me" sign on it: A strong hitter can drive the ball the opposite way, and send it over the right-field fence. However, if the hitter tries to pull that pitch, it's probably a grounder to shortstop. Take the outside pitch to the opposite field, and watch your power numbers increase.
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