Hitting Tips
Balance and Hitting Posture
Especially for young hitters, although this applies to fully grown-physically mature Major League Baseball players as well, keeping proper balance and posture throughout the swing will increase one's effectiveness.
Why?
- The hitters head will not move as much so the eyes will stay steady. Seeing the pitch earlier and longer will result in more accuracy with the swing.
- It will improve the hitters' ability to recognize what type of pitch (rotation and velocity of the pitch) and the location (strike/ball/good pitch to hit) to help make better decisions.
- Being in an athletic, balanced position with proper hitting posture will allow for maximized control of the hitter's physical movements ... in this case we are talking about the hitters swing.
- Dynamic balance is a key to taking a sound, quality swing and will also help the hitter's vision, tracking, pitch recognition and decision making.
- It starts with an athletic base and a proper spine angle (shoulders over toes).
- The posture should not change much regardless of where the pitch location is.
- A good, balanced finish is a sign that the hitter probably did a lot of good things in his/her swing.
This is not "rocket science" ... we tell hitters to get in a quality athletic position (like guarding someone in basketball), see the ball as long as possible and watch the ball hit the bat. Then finish as though you were getting a photo taken for a baseball card... BALANCED.