Hitting a baseball takes athletic skill, quickness, strength and intelligence. Great hitters will use their minds to understand what the pitcher will throw to try to get them out. When you stand in the batter's box, you have a much better chance of hitting the ball if you understand what pitch is coming next. The fundamentals of swinging the bat properly include having the proper grip, a solid weight shift and solid concentration skills.
Step 1
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Balance your weight evenly between your two feet. Hold the bat about six inches over your back shoulder. Grip the bat firmly, but don't choke it too tightly. If your grip is too tight, it will slow your bat down as you move it through the hitting zone. If you don't hold it firmly enough, the force of the ball hitting the bat may knock the bat right out of your hands.
Step 2
Shift your weight to your back leg as the pitcher begins his motion. This is called loading your swing. In order to hit the ball hard, you have to come forward with your weight and momentum when you swing the bat. The best way to do that is to have your weight on your back leg as you begin your swing so you can easily transfer it to your front side as you swing the bat.
Step 3
Drive your bottom hand to the ball as you swing. You must concentrate your vision on the baseball as the pitcher winds up and throws it. As it leaves his hand and you determine that the ball will be a strike, you point the knob of the bat at the pitcher and drive your hands through the baseball.
Step 4
Power the bat through the hitting zone with your top hand. If you are a right-handed batter, this is your right hand. Your arms should be fully extended during your at bat. As you make contact, your eyes should be focused on the ball for as long as possible and you must pull the bat through the hitting zone with force. However, don't swing so hard that you lose your balance.
Tips and Warnings
- Learn the strike zone. You have a much better chance of becoming a consistent hitter when you swing at good pitches and let the poor ones pass.
Things You'll Need
- baseball bat
References
- "Coaching Youth Baseball The Ripken Way"; Cal Ripken, Jr. and Bill Ripken; 2006
- QC Baseball; Backyard Hitting Lessons; Don Edlin
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