Three Basics of the Swing: Balance, Eyes & Follow Through
Hitting a baseball or softball can be complicated. Let’s simplify it with these three tips
Scott Vatter of HitStreak works with a youth baseball player on balance and staying through the swing.
Three basics of the baseball or softball swing include balance, staying through the ball, and keeping your eye on the ball. Sounds easy, right? Here are some tips…
1) Balance is Key!
A pitcher’s entire goal is to get you off balance as a hitter!
If your hitter is off balance at the end of their swing, there’s a good chance they aren’t using their body correctly. They may be over-rotating and “pulling off” the ball, or may be in a bad posture for hitting. Try getting into a good athletic position when you hit by keeping your weight 50-50 on each side of your body. Then try to hold your balance after contact - that alone can clean up some problems in the swing.
One visual technique works for hitting a baseball/softball as well as a golf ball. Get in your proper ending position - balanced and with a good follow through - and then work backwards from there to see how you can finish in that spot.
Building this foundation is essential in youth hitters and even more important as they progress into more advanced competition facing a combination of fastballs and off-speed pitches.
2) You can’t hit what you can’t see!
Your mom or dad was right all along…keep your eye on the ball!
A common mistake many hitters make is pulling their head or eyes off of the ball prior to contact. Trying to keep a still head or “keeping your chin on the ball” will greatly improve consistent contact. Try to watch the ball all the way to contact and see it hit the bat! Even pulling off slightly can make a big difference in the result for hitters and throw you out of balance. Your eyes will naturally find and follow the ball after contact…which is something you’ll miss out on if you don’t see the ball in the first place.
3) Stay through the ball
While trying to create power in the swing, many young hitters will “pull off” the ball with his or her front shoulder. Not only will they lose power this way, but they’ll be out of balance, out of timing and more susceptible to off-speed pitches or pitches on the outside corner.
For many young players learning the game, it’s instinctive to try to create as much power as possible by rotating the body. In doing this, they often step away from the pitcher (to the third base side for a right-hand hitter or to the first base side for a left-hand hitter). Keeping the front foot in line with the pitcher will help start the swing on the correct path as the hips and shoulders follow. Teach your player to aim to hit the ball to the middle of the field to help keep the body in line throughout the swing.
Nolan Arenado, formerly of the Colorado Rockies, is a textbook example of staying through the ball with your eyes, head and body.
Hitting a baseball is perhaps the hardest thing to do consistently in sports. There are so many variables and things to consider in the swing. Keeping these three basic fundaments in mind will help players of all ages develop good swing habits and produce good results!
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