How To Hit a Baseball the RIGHT Way

This is a great series of baseball videos that can be used to teach young ballplayers the fundamentals of hitting a baseball. These tips and drills introduce a solid approach to hitting that incorporates both the physical and mental components. The series begins by demonstrating the correct way to stand in the batter’s box. Swing Stance shows how the correct body, hand, and bat positioning can make a big difference in a youth baseball player’s ability to hit the ball. Practicing a consistent batting stance helps with balance during the swing and makes it easier to adjust to different pitch types and locations.
 
Proper Position and Tracking takes this lesson a step further by looking at how a batter’s hands and lower body loading are directly related to swing timing. If hand movement and weight transfer are not synchronized correctly, it’s likely that bat speed and power will not be maximized.
 
The next video, Line Drive Off a Tee, looks at swing trajectory. Coach Escandon does a great job of teaching how to hit line drives by swinging "behind" the baseball. Many youth baseball players mistakenly try to uppercut their swing in order to hit more homeruns. But ask any successful hitter at the prep, collegiate or professional level and they’ll tell you that a level, line-drive swing is what allows them to maintain a high batting average and ultimately, hit more home runs.
   
The Side-Toss Hitting Drill incorporates swing stance and swing trajectory into an easy two-person routine. We love how this drill lets hitters practice staying back in their stance instead of lunging forward after the ball. Remember, the goal of side-toss is not to crush the ball but to simulate different pitch locations so the hitters can focus on timing and developing a level, line-drive swing.

Once a young hitter is comfortable in the batter’s box and is capable of consistently hitting line drives, it’s time to add some power. Generating Power looks at how lower body strength and momentum towards the pitcher are the key ingredients to a powerful swing. Remember that this extra power is only effective when used in combination with correct body positioning and swing technique. In other words, it doesn’t matter how hard you can hit the ball if you can’t hit the ball. Have fun!