How To Teach Opening The Hips In A Baseball Swing

How to Teach Opening the Hips in a Baseball Swing

Jun 16, 2011 | By Steve Silverman

The late Hall of Famer Ted Williams is often considered to be among the greatest hitters in the history of baseball. Williams described hitting a baseball as the most difficult thing to do on a consistent basis in all of sports. Great athletes in other sports -- such as basketball's Michael Jordan -- struggled mightily when attempting to hit the baseball hard. Opening the hips is a key to generating power and hitting the baseball hard.

Step 1

Load your swing when you are standing in the batter's box. As the pitcher begins his windup, you should prepare to swing the bat with power and momentum. You can do this by shifting your weight to your back leg as the pitcher is in his windup. This is also referred to as negative movement. When your weight shifts to your back leg, it has no other place to but forward once the ball is on its way to the plate.

Step 2

Pick up up your back heel to allow a full hip turn as you begin your swing. The muscles in your legs, hips and torso are very powerful and will give you the ability to drive the ball for distance when you use them in your swing. The first movement toward unleashing that power is picking up your rear heel so you can pivot on the ball of your foot and get your swing underway.

Step 3

Rotate your torso toward the pitcher as you drive the head of the bat toward the ball. As your torso moves, your hips will open up and the head of the bat will drive through the ball with speed. The key to generating power is bat head speed at impact. Opening your hips will give you an opportunity to develop consistent power.

Step 4

Drive your hands through the ball to finish your swing. It's not enough to make contact and then stop your swing. That will allow you to make contact but you will immediately lose bat head speed and that will cause you to block the ball and hit it to the opposite field. If you continue to move your hands through the ball after contact, your hips will rotate fully and you will be able to hit the ball further and more consistently.