Posted by: Tre' Brown (tbrown@stedmund.com) on Wed Oct 10 08:22:55 2007

In my previous post, i talked about the work load necessary to be excellent. i assumed that everyone would know that i was talking about someone who is already proficient in their swing. This is my first posting and first time talking about hitting with the open public, other than my players.

RX for Brtter Hitting - Mechanics

Tools you need - a video camera with a tripod and a video analysis program. I use right view pro.

I have named my philosophy "Ground Up Hitting". The reason for this is that mechanics of hitting starts from the feet through the body to the head of the bat, barring all of the visual and mental stuff that goes on prior to the swing.

Stance - i tell my players to have their heels outside of their shoulders with the toes pointed inward towards the plate. Knees should be bent slightly and pulled inwards. The torso should be slightly leaned but back should remain straight. Hands should be back arround the back nipple and 6-10 inches away from the body. Elbows should be relaxed and pointed downward. Head should be level and both eyes should be able to see the pitcher. The bat should be layed down with the trademark of the bat close to the shoulder. Bat proximity to the shoulder through the swing increases precision. Weight should be back and the hitter should feel the pressure of his weight with the inside of his back thigh.

Trigger - at the same time, the front foot should stride short and soft with the toes pointed in and the front knee inward. Knee proximity through the swing ensures power. The hands should also begin to move rearward slowly towards the umpire not arround the shoulder. (It is very important to master the proper trigger because this must be performed at time of the pitchers release.) A hitter must separate the stride/trigger from the swing.

Heel Plant - the trigger has happened and it is to attack the ball. the front heel is planted still with the foot pointed inward. this causes the axis of rotation. there should be no more forward movement with the head and front hip.

Connection - this is not connection with the ball. this si the point where the back hip has fired and if you stopped a side view of a swing, the hands, back shoulder and hip should be in vertical alignment.

Bat Lag - at this point, the body is the same as connection, with the exception of the hands should be in front of the eyes and the bat should be pointed towards the catcher.

Contact - Front foot closed, back foot pivoted, belly button towards the pitcher, hands extended towards the pitcher, eyes on contact, and drive through not to the ball.

Follow through - follow through happens, but i don't stress follow through because i want my players down the base line.

As i mentioned before, i use Right View Pro video analysis system, but i have seen many that do the sam stuff. Also, my knowledge of hitting comes from my own playing and coaching experience, and listening to hitting instructors such as Jim Schwanke, Gary Ward, and the Doyle Baseball Academy. Hitting is really not as complicated as people think. most of the really intricate parts of the swing happen naturally.