Hitting Videos
Key things to becoming a good hitter:
1. The Grip
Line up your knuckles (middle knuckles) so that when you extend your pointer finger, they are pointing in the same direction. Keep your grip relaxed; loose muscles are fast muscles.
2. Arms
Keep arms close to the body. We need consistent hits, on the base every time at bat, we are not swinging for the fence. Short quick swings are more effective than swooping swings. Remember you have less than a second to make contact with the ball.
3. Legs
Stay ready in an athletic position. Stay on the balls of your feet. Feel your weight and pressure on your big toes. Point the knees slightly in.
Eliminate the step! By eliminating the step, you eliminate the chance for mistakes. When you take a step, you run into the problem where your head drops, effecting your hand-eye coordination.
Shift your weight instead! Load on the back foot when the ball comes, shift your weight forward to begin your swing. It's all about timing. The legs start your swing; then the trunk, then your arms/hands.
1. The Grip
Line up your knuckles (middle knuckles) so that when you extend your pointer finger, they are pointing in the same direction. Keep your grip relaxed; loose muscles are fast muscles.
2. Arms
Keep arms close to the body. We need consistent hits, on the base every time at bat, we are not swinging for the fence. Short quick swings are more effective than swooping swings. Remember you have less than a second to make contact with the ball.
3. Legs
Stay ready in an athletic position. Stay on the balls of your feet. Feel your weight and pressure on your big toes. Point the knees slightly in.
Eliminate the step! By eliminating the step, you eliminate the chance for mistakes. When you take a step, you run into the problem where your head drops, effecting your hand-eye coordination.
Shift your weight instead! Load on the back foot when the ball comes, shift your weight forward to begin your swing. It's all about timing. The legs start your swing; then the trunk, then your arms/hands.
Female Athletes Like to Feel the Swing
Great Hitting Instruction (created for coaches; great advice for athletes)
The video below was created for coaches but it is valuable for our athletes to see the breakdown of the swing. I apologize that this is from a hardball coach, but guess what, their teaching the same thing I'm teaching our fastball athletes.
Hitting Drills from the knees and with a T.
Lauren Chamberlain: Example of a Great Swing (below)
Note: I don't like to encourage a step as she does, because it causes your head to drop and hinders your ability to follow the ball with your eyes.