Baseball Hitting Mechanics,Training Aids,Trainer,Tips,Instruction and Techniques

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Five Key Principles to Teaching Great Baseball Hitting Mechanics

Have you ever really looked at what is happening in the swing process of the best players in the game? Do you know what Ted Williams meant when  he was talking about “Ideal Impact Zone” or what it means to lead with your hips and leveling of the bat? Do you think weight transfer is a hitting technique, or just good mechanics? What about extension & having a long swing? What is the Power “V” ? why is it important? All of these questions and more are answered in the following pages within our website. What took me a major part of my coaching career to learn is all right here in writing for every coach, parent and player interested in learning the best swing mechanics in the game.

Principle #1 – Weight Transfer

First of all, weight transfer is an essential element of great hitting mechanics. We do not believe it is a hitting technique, but rather an element of great hitting, and a major one at that. There has to be back to front movement in a players swing process in order to hit with any kind of consistency and power. Sitting, squishing the bug is simply poor mechanics.

Principle #2 - Hips & Core

Turning to the ball with the hips leading the way is such a huge part of hitting and is an area that a majority of young players never fully develop. The power that is generated by the hips in a baseball swing is based on the principle of torque. The same way a golfer, boxer, tennis player, and pitcher use their core muscles to turn, so do the best hitters in the game. Players need to “learn to turn” to the ball.

Principle #3 - Leveling

The greatest difference between a linear and rotational hitter is their approach to the ball. Leveling is the technique that gets the bat into the path of the ball and is irrefutable as to whether it is really happening, because it is. Dipping the back shoulder, dropping the barrel of the bat level to the ball and swinging up through the oncoming pitch.    

Principle #4 – Ideal Impact

Ted Williams wrote that the ultimate contact point is made when the barrel of the bat and ball meet at a (90 degree) angle. Another term that is used to describe ideal impact is hitting with your hands “inside” the ball. A couple things have to happen to make ideal impact; one, you have to let the ball travel deep enough into the hitting zone and two, your front elbow has to move up and around your body.

Principle #5 – Extension & The Power “V”

Finally, we will take a look at “Extension” and the long part of the swing, also referred to the Power “V”. Great swing mechanics can be broken down into two simple elements; short and compact to the ball, long through the ball. It is this concept of “getting long” that really sets the great hitters apart. The longer a player can keep the bat in the plane of the pitch, the better chance they will hit the ball and make contact. Professional baseball players understand the importance of keeping the wrists square at contact and push through to the “V” without rolling through the ball; but rarely is it taught. You simply cannot ignore the significance of having a long swing and keeping the bat in the plane of the ball as long as possible, without rolling the wrists. It is way too important. Teach your players short to the ball, long through it!

Final Thoughts

The very best hitters transfer their weight forward, let the back shoulder dip slightly, pull with their hips, keep their hitters box intact, get level to the ball, understand ideal impact, have a long finish, and swing up through the ball. They are short and compact to the ball, and long through it. Great hitters understand the importance of keeping the bat in the hitting zone as long as possible, and stay calm and under control at the plate. Hitting is a series of linked movements that all come together as one and is based on the principle of slow to fast; nothing rushed, nothing jerky, just nice and smooth, step and turn!

MLB players use rotational mechanics. The very same mechanics that Ted Williams used, and the great hitters before, and after him. The best hitters in baseball are doing exactly the opposite of what a large majority of coaches in this country are teaching. They don’t swing down and they are not trying to hit grounders – sorry to say it.

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