Posted by: SJD (nospam@nospam.org) on Thu Oct 13 07:39:12 2005

Here's a link to a great article on the grip:

http://www.baseball-excellence.com/index.cfm?Method=Instructions_Instructionsdetail&id=38

Really work with the kids on holding the bat high in the hands (where the fingers join the hand), rather than square in the palms, to give "flippy wrists". This will give better bat control & reach for the outside pitch, and helps assist in faster batspeed. The drill that has the kids stand at the plate and actually THROW the bat at the mound works, but you might want to be careful of that, for safety's sake!

Also pay attention to the info on grip pressure. I've coached kids who think you need the strength of the Vulcan neck pinch or Bruce Lee's Five Fingers of Death to swing the bat, and as noted, too firm a grip can slow down the swing.

sjd(at)cogeco(d0t)ca

> Anyone have any guidance on bat grip for Little Leaguers? I've been told to lineup the second set of knuckles on both hands, then stick out both index fingers to check they both point parallel to each other. Others have said that batters should rotate their hands relative to each other to a position that feels natural and comfortable to them. (I find the lineup the knuckles grip to be a bit unnatural actually)
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> I'm a newbie assistant coach just trying to give the kids the right advice on how to hold the bat! Thanks.
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> BTW, great site Jack. Bud in Sacramento