A good batting stance is one that allows the batter to feel comfortable as he stands in the batter's box and lets him swing the bat with balance and do it in a forceful manner. There is no single way for a batter to stand. The key in determining if a stance is good is if the batter can get to a good hitting position when swinging the bat.
Purpose
The purpose of the batting stance is to enable the batter to hit the ball with power on a consistent basis. In order to hit the ball hard, a batter has to have his momentum going forward when he swings the bat. One of the best ways to do this is for the batter to stand with his feet shoulder-width apart and the majority of his weight on his back leg. As the pitch comes in, the batter transfers his weight and momentum to his front side. This allows him to hit the ball with power.
Making Contact
The ideal spot for a hitter to make contact with the ball is just in front of the plate; his stance should enable him to make contact in this spot. Some batters do this by taking an open stance. When a right-handed batter uses an open stance, his front foot is closer to third base than it is first base. This allows him to fire his hips through the hitting zone and hit the ball out in front of the plate.
Individual Decision
Hitting coaches at the youth, middle school and high school levels may coach batters to use hitting styles and batting stances that worked for thems. This may be counterproductive. It's essential that the batter get to the ideal hitting position when the bat is in motion. It doesn't matter what the batter looks like while he is standing in the batter's box. Chicago White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker takes this approach and maintains that it allows each hitter to find his own comfort zone. "You never want to force a hitter to do it your way," Walker said. "Nobody can hit if they are uncomfortable in the batter's box."
Notable Stances
Legendary slugger Babe Ruth stood with his feet close together in a slightly pigeon-toed manner. Joe DiMaggio stood with his feet wide apart and barely lifted his front foot when swinging. Ichiro Suzuki holds his feet close together and picks his front foot up 6 inches or more when swinging. Hank Aaron stood with his feet slightly less than shoulder-width apart and had his weight on his front leg at the point of impact with the ball.
References
- "The Art of Hitting .300"; Charley Lau, 1992
- Greg Walker, Major League Hitting Coach; Chicago
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