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The Major League Baseball Swing (Rotational Hitting) |
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Anyone Can Learn the Correct Swing TechniqueEveryone has heard this one:That kid has a natural swing. You can't teach that.The "natural swing" is just perfect technique. So, of course it can be taught. Hitting MythsMike Epstein says "Hitters are born with the natural swing; coaches take it away"What most coaches are teaching and what the great hitters have actually been doing for over 100 years is something completely different. When you watch a hitter take a swing, everything is moving so fast that you don't know exactly the mechanics of what's going on, but you may intuitively know a good swing when you see it. When a pitcher lets go of a ball at their head, the ball usually comes in at a 10 degree downward angle. The best way to hit this ball is to use a 10 degree uppercut swing path with the bat. Most MLB hitters use an uppercut swing path. (just as Ted Williams described in his book in 1971) Most coaches and instructors give cues that promote a downward bat path. Hitting myths are created and promoted everywhere you look. Everyone hears this craziness from MLB announcers: He got good extension on that one. 
Posters promote myths These posters lead most people to mistakenly think your arms should be extended in order to hit a baseball. 
Even Louisville Slugger promotes myths No MLB player uses this swing path, or hits the top of the ball, and most don't extend their arms like this at contact. Rotational Hitting TechniquesThe major league swing is generally referred to as "rotational" hitting.We will be focusing on the common elements of how most major leaguers actually swing. Some instructors may say this is using a "cookie cutter" approach to hitting. We are only discussing common elements easily spotted in MLB player's swings - and leave stance choice, stride choice, after-contact moves, etc. up to each individual player. Of course, we are not saying you will become a MLB hitter when you use these techniques. We will explain the basic techniques and help you to avoid non-productive techniques. We will try our best to not use any technical jargon, baseball buzzwords, or obscure medical references (I am no doctor and I do not play one on the Internet). Toe Touch Through Ball ContactMajor League hitters have a unique stance, but most have roughly the same swing from toe touch to ball contact. So, let's explore the common elements of the swing.Here is Chipper Jones at toe touch and at ball contact. Chipper is using basically the same swing (from toe touch to contact) as most major leaguers. 
The Swing in Three StagesWe will explore the 3 phases of a swing:
These phases are easy to review and to practice as separate units. 1. Stance ('mostly' personal style)
You can use your unique flair here, but generally you must follow these basic rules:
Here are some "musts" during the stance: 
Upside down
Cues to use: loose top hand Bad cues: line up your door knocking knuckles 2. Coil (aka Stride, Load, Weight Shift)Shift Your Weight from Back to FrontBabe Ruth gave the same advice back in the 1920s. So, this is nothing new.Hitters accomplish this weight shift via one of 3 methods:
Chipper Jones Coil Move
When to begin the stride?Begin your stride on every pitch, not just strikes. Your front foot must be down roughly halfway before the ball reaches the plate, so you have time to complete the swing forward phase.Toe Touch (aka Launch Position)
Chipper Jones at Toe Touch
Cues to use: Push your torso forward, stride for every pitch, stride when the pitcher releases the ball, easy stride, coil back as you go forward, elbow up at touch, hips even Bad cues: elbow down, step forward 3. The Swing Forward Phase
When the ball is halfway (30 feet, or 2/10 of a second) and you determine the ball is going to end up in the strike zone,
start driving to your hip.
This drive/rotation should normally begin at the moment of toe touch, however, you can wait briefly if you were fooled by an offspeed pitch. Swing to Hip Phase (the secret to hitting)
Chipper Jones Swing to Hip Initiate the swing by simultaneously:
Destructive cues: hands to the ball, don't drop your shoulder, squish the bug, swing down on the ball Hitting faults: Hands to the ball/ swing down on the ball The most common problems in this phase, destructive cues like "hands to the ball", "swing down on the ball", and a basic misunderstanding of the MLB swing, cause the swing path to angle down instead of angle up at contact. 
Chicken Wing Fault Both hips open, and no hips open Another point of confusion in this phase is following the "open your hips" cue/myth literally. Only the front hip should open (ahead of the front shoulder) - not the back hip. If you open the back hip, you can't hit anything outside or offspeed. The other problem is not opening your front hip ahead of your front shoulder. If you don't, you will have a slower 'gate swing' rotating on your front hip. Secret Drills: You don't need any DVDs, or instructors, or paid lessons. Just practice this Swing to Hip Phase in the mirror. This should be the first thing you learn in T-Ball. Hip to Contact Phase - Rotate/ Pendulum
Chipper Jones Hip to Contact
Cues to use: rotate, back elbow tight Destructive cues: hit the top of the ball, level swing, swing down During this phase, the bat head should angle down, then level off around the center of your body, then begin an upward arc toward the ball in the same plane as the pitched ball. If you use the proper uppercut swing path and hit the ball "square", you should return it to the height of the pitcher's hand at ball release. At Ball Contact
Chipper Jones at Contact
After Ball ContactWho cares?Major League Hitters at Ball ContactNotice the following at impact with ball:
Myths Busted
Should I Teach Rotational Hitting to Kids?Some youth coaches say you can't teach rotational hitting to kids, because they aren't strong enough, or they aren't coordinated enough, or the techniques are too advanced, etc.You will notice that I didn't mention power, or strength, or coordination, during any of the steps of a rotational swing. Rotational hitting is simply a series of techniques. These techniques produce the fastest bat speed possible using the available power and strength of the player regardless of age. The techniques I have outlined are very simple and are not too difficult for anyone to grasp. The tilt action may be the most difficult technique for a kid, but the benefits are enormous. You may want to use the "cues to use" above as a way to simplify the swing. Of course, you may phase in the steps over time. |
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