Hitting Fundamentals
• As we discuss hitting technique, we will
break the swing down into three phases
1. Stance
2. Loading phase
3. Rotation/ explosion phase
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)
Stance
WideStance- weight back slightly, hands up a little
Stance
Neutral Stance- weight on back inside of foot
Stance
Narrow Stance- Hands moving slightly
Stance
Narrow Stance
Loading Phase
Goal Set ourselves to optimum position
for explosion (bat speed) and extend the
hitting zone.
• All athletic movements have loading
phase:
1. Jumping bend knees and reach back
2. Throwing lift front leg and reach back
3. Shooting bend knees and set bball
4. Golf rotate hips back and coil club
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
Loading Phase
Hands detached and knob pointing to catcher’s feet- heal
down and weight transferred as he started the next phase
Loading Phase
Weight transferred forward, hands detached
Loading Phase
Front toe down, hands
detached
Weight beginning to transfer
as back elbow pulls to body
Loading Phase
Toe of front foot down, hands detached
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
Rotation/ Explosion Phase
Upper Body Goal move bat quick
through the hitting zone
• Potential problems if not loaded properly:
1. Knob of bat pointed too far forward at
loading phase shoulders must pull the
bat, no bat speed, short bat path
2. Knob of bat pointed too far back at
loading phase bat will be late through
zone
3. Knob pointed too high at loading
phase bat plane will not be level
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
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
Explosion
Weight on solid front foot, back
arm tight to body
Back arm tight to body, eyes and
upper body staying on the ball
Explosion
Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight
to body
Explosion
Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight
to body
Explosion
Weight on solid front foot, back arm tight
to body, head on the ball