Posted by: scottt (scotttemple@qwest.net) on Sat Sep 22 00:26:30 2001

I see you are still waiting for some answers!! Here are couple of thoughts...

If you are asking that kind of question, I really believe you would benefit seeing a complete systematic approach to hitting. I have not seen the tape mentioned here, but, try it, you may like it! --- If you want to see another perspective, consider a coach who is probably the undisputable best in the nation for college, as judged by most people in his sport. I would recommend buying Mike Candrea's softball tape called "Hitting Mechanics." Mike is the U. of Arizona women's softball coach. He does a great job in describing how to hold the bat as well as how to set-up, have rhythm, trigger, stride (or not stride), swing sequence, etc, etc... (and no, I don't get paid to say that!!) --- And by the way, as a Phd. of Exercise Science explains it, "unless the laws of physics change for softball, the swing is the same for baseball as it is for softball"; there might be a slight difference if a batter is trying to uppercut on purpose in baseball to go downtown. -- One more thing: I've given lessons for years, but I still get MY lessons (during my son's lessons) from the head hitting coach of one of the MLB teams, and guess what? He and Candrea teach almost the exact same things...I'd have no problem taking my son to Candrea and I do take my competitive softball daughter to the baseball coach!!

Here are some pretty well accepted thoughts on holding the bat:
1) Hold the bat at the base of your fingers, not in the palm;
2) Candrea and my MLB guy both say to strive to go knocking knuckles to knocking knuckles, but don't be afraid to let the player's top hand go partway between the knocking knuckle and the 3rd knuckle. This will give a little added strength to the top hand and help prevent the bat from dropping and causing pop-ups...(even college and pro's need to do this sometimes...)
3) Maintain a looser grip, not a death grip. If you hold it too tight, your wrist muscles will be too tight and not able to move as quickly as they should be able to. I do not believe that they are held so loosely that the bat slips in your hand, however; that's why they wear gloves and put on so much pine tar!!
4)Hands hold bat at about a 45 degree angle.
5)Top hand should be cocked as if you were about to swing a hammer downward.
6) Lead arm should be at about a 90 degree angle
7) Top hand should be held at about the top of the shoulder.
8) The hands should be closer towards the back edge of your back shoulder
9) Also, the hands should be held in such a way that the hands are practically hidden from where the pitcher would be standing. They should be held closer to your body. Kineseology professors tell us that we're more powerful and quicker when the hands stay closer to the chest initially during the swing, and not allowed to cast out from the shoulders.
11) Both elbows should be allowed to "fall" downward naturally so the elbows are pointing more down to the ground.
11) Understand that this is all part of the setup and is purely cosmetic in nature and what really matters is where you are as you are about to actually swing (at launch position). That is why you see so many pro's with weird set-ups! However, just watch where they go right before they swing. They're almost all in the same exact position. Most of us maintain that you should set-up in the most basic, simplest position in the beginning, so that when you do your stride (or trigger device) you are able to go from your set-up position to the launch position as easily and directly as possible.

That's gotta be enough for now!! Good luck!
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I have a question. How should you hold your bat. should you hold it on your shoulder, hign above your head, with your elbow up, with it down, loose in your fingers, tight in ur fingers, what?