Hitting Fundamentals

1. Hitting Fundamentals As we discuss hitting technique, we will break the swing down into three phases Stance Loading phase Rotation/ explosion phase

2. Stance Goal Prepare ourselves to get to the loading phase. Grip bat aligning knuckles, allows for bat whip Must have feet pointing directly forward Must be balanced with the majority of our weight on the inside of back foot Stance should have rhythm (small movements of body and/ or hands)

3. Stance WideStance- weight back slightly, hands up a little

4. Stance Neutral Stance- weight on back inside of foot

5. Stance Narrow Stance- Hands moving slightly

6. Stance Narrow Stance

7. Loading Phase Goal Set ourselves to optimum position for explosion (bat speed) and extend the hitting zone. All athletic movements have loading phase: Jumping bend knees and reach back Throwing lift front leg and reach back Shooting bend knees and set bball Golf rotate hips back and coil club

8. Loading Phase (page 2) Step directly toward pitcher keeping toe closed- Gain lateral momentum Land on ball of foot softly, keeping heal off the ground and baring little weight Weight stays back on inside of back foot Keep hands back- detach hands- reach back with hands slightly behind shoulder front hand moves back, knob of bat should point to catchers feet back elbow pulls slightly to body Front arm should be in line with pitcher

9. Loading Phase Hands detached and knob pointing to catcher’s feet- heal down and weight transferred as he started the next phase

10. Loading Phase Weight transferred forward, hands detached

11. Loading Phase Front toe down, hands detached Weight beginning to transfer as back elbow pulls to body

12. Loading Phase Toe of front foot down, hands detached

13. Rotation/ Explosion Phase Goal Swing the bat quick and powerful through an extended hitting zone on a flat plane. Explosion/ rotation phase begins as heel of front foot bares weight, back hip caves and rotates, and the hands begin to attack the ball Lower body rotates faster than upper body as back hip collapses and explodes Desire the upper body to stay closed/ on the ball longer

14. Rotation/ Explosion Phase Upper Body Goal move bat quick through the hitting zone Potential problems if not loaded properly: Knob of bat pointed too far forward at loading phase shoulders must pull the bat, no bat speed, short bat path Knob of bat pointed too far back at loading phase bat will be late through zone Knob pointed too high at loading phase bat plane will not be level

15. Rotation/ Explosion Phase Upper Body (page 2) Hands lead the shoulder in the rotation Back elbow continues to be pulled tight to body as front elbow leads the knob of bat and hands to the ball Lead with the hands pull with front elbow/hand, push with back hand with elbow tight to body Head and front shoulder stay closed as long as possible At contact, front hand should be palm down and back hand should be palm up

16. Rotation/ Explosion Phase Lower Body Goal transfer weight onto a solid front leg Starts with the weight transferring to the heal of back foot. Back hip caves and rotates pushing weight forward Heel of back foot should lift high bare no weight Front leg should be stiff (not straight) baring all weight at end of the swing Weight should not be out over front leg Back toe may come off the ground

17. Explosion Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight to body Back arm tight to body, eyes and upper body staying on the ball

18. Explosion Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight to body

19. Explosion Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight to body

20. Explosion Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight to body, head on the ball