Feel free to experiment with standing on each side of the box. Some right-handed hitters prefer standing on the right side of home plate, and vice versa with left-handed hitters. Don’t stand too close or too far from the plate. Standing too far away will make it much more difficult to hit outside pitches. Crowding the plate will do the same with inside pitches. If you are a beginner, start by standing directly across from the plate. After a lot of practice in this position, experiment with moving up toward the front of the box or further back, which may make it easier to hit certain pitches. Hitting from the rear of the box, for example, will provide extra time for you to hit a fastball.
Right-handed people often have a dominant right eye. Left-handed people typically have a dominant left eye. Determining which eye is dominant will help you choose the best stance to adopt at the plate.
Neutral stance (also called “even stance”): Both feet are placed an equal distance from home plate. This is the most popular stance, since it allows you to turn your head over your shoulder without any strain so you can face the pitcher and keep both eyes on the ball. Open stance: The foot closest to the pitcher is moved slightly back so that the front of your body is a little more “open” to the pitcher. This is the least popular stance because it takes you out of hitting position, thus creating extra steps to get back into position during the pitch. Closed stance: The foot closest to the pitcher is placed a tiny bit forward. This stance allows you to cover more of the plate with your bat. However, turning your head to keep both eyes on the pitcher may be more of a strain. If pointing your forward foot toward home plate proves to be uncomfortable, try adjusting it so that your toes point 45 degrees more toward the pitcher.
Keep a secure grip on the bat, but also keep your grip loose enough so that your muscles are relaxed. [8] X Research source Adjust your grip so that the second knuckles of both hands form a perfect line.
Resting the bat on your shoulder or holding it horizontally will weaken your swing. Holding the bat vertically can create a more powerful swing, but may be uncomfortable for beginners. Make sure you’re using the right bat size. If you’re using a bat that’s too heavy, you won’t be able to swing through the zone. [11] X Expert Source Isaac HessBaseball Coach & Instructor Expert Interview. 20 March 2020.
Practice how to swing a baseball bat as much as you can before going to bat in a game. Train until the swing comes naturally, without you having to think about every little step. This way you are better equipped to concentrate on the ball with your full attention, instead of also having to plot out what to do next.
Keep your stride short so that your body’s weight can shift more easily from your rear leg to your front leg once you begin to swing.
Moving your front foot during your swing will cause you to swing a slower bat. Having an unstable front leg will also make it harder for you to keep your head still.
The position of your feet should ultimately form a triangle, with your head as its point. The sides between your head and each foot should be relatively equal. This gives you near perfect balance.
Pivot on your back toes as you swing, so they end up pointing toward the pitcher. The closer you keep the bat to your body, the more power you can deliver with your swing.
Aim to hit the ball with your bat’s “sweet spot,” roughly five to seven inches from the top of the bat. [15] X Research source Keeping the bat parallel to the ground and level with the ball will better ensure that you still hit the ball even if you miss it with the bat’s sweet spot.
Your swing should begin with your chin facing your front shoulder. Without moving your head, your chin should then face your rear shoulder by the end of your swing as you follow through. [16] X Research source Think of a sprinter crossing a finish line. They don’t slow down and come to a dead stop right at the finish line. They sprint at full speed straight through it. Only then do they slow down bit by bit until they finally stop well past the finish line.
First, adopt your stance. On the count of “one,” load up. On “two,” take your stride forward. On “three,” train your eyes on the imaginary ball. On “four,” swing.
Instead of awkwardly drawing the bat up to shoulder-level, draw it behind your rear hip during your stance, load, and stride.
Place the tee at different points across the plate to grow accustomed to hitting different pitches.
From there, advance to actual baseballs, either thrown by a live pitcher or a pitching machine.
