There has been much debate over the years about metal bats and their ability to drive the ball harder and faster than wood bats. Many youth leagues and high school teams use only metal bats because they are less likely to break and teams don't need to purchase as many over the course of a season. While changes have been made to the core of metal bats to make them more similar to wood bats in terms of the distance and speed the ball travels, metal bats can be used efficiently to drive the ball out of the ballpark for a home run.
Step 1
Take a comfortable stance in the rear of the batter's box. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder-length apart, your hands should be about six inches above your back shoulder and your front shoulder should be facing the pitcher. You want to be in the rear of the batter's box because it will give you a fraction of a second more time to react to the pitch. Wait as long as possible to swing, since a metal bat is lighter than a wood bat of the same length, and you don't want to be too far out in front of the ball.
Step 2
Move backwards as the pitcher begins his wind-up. When you swing, have all of your weight and momentum coming forward. To make sure that happens, all of your weight should be on your back side to start out. This is called negative movement, and it is one of the most important aspects when it comes to hitting for power. It will also help you with a wood bat, but it is essential with a metal bat because you need as much momentum as possible when making impact with a lighter bat against the ball.
Step 3
Make sure your hands are extended away from your body when you make contact with the ball. If you make contact with the ball and your arms are in tight to your body, you will feel vibrations in your hands, forearms and elbows.
Step 4
Make contact with the ball with your bat out in front of the plate. Your swing will have more velocity this way. Bat head speed at impact is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to hitting for power, and it is especially important when using a lighter metal bat.
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