"An amazing thing, the human
brain. Capable of understanding incredibly complex and intricate
concepts. Yet at times unable to recognize the obvious and
simple."
-- Jay Abraham
Five Key Principles
to Great Baseball Hitting Mechanics
Have you ever really looked at
what is happening in the swing process of the best players in
the game. Do you know what Ted Williams meant when when he was
talking about "Ideal Impact Zone" or what it means to lead with
your hips and leveling of the bat? Do you think weight transfer is a
hitting technique, or just good mechanics? What about extension or having a long swing? What is the Power "V" and why is it important? All of these questions and more are
answered in the following pages within our website. What took me a major part of my coaching career to learn is all right here in writing for every coach, parent and player interested in learning the best swing mechanics in the game.
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Principle #One - Weight Transfer
First of all, we believe that weight transfer is an essential element of great hitting mechanics. We do not believe it is a hitting technique, but rather an element of
great hitting, and a major one at that. There has to be back to
front movement in a players swing process in order to hit with any kind
of consistency and power. Sitting, squishing the bug is
simply poor mechanics.
Watch the back foot - players are either
on the tip of their back foot, or the foot is completely off the ground
at contact. This is what good weight transfer looks like and there
has to be back to front motion in the swing. There is no sitting, there
is no squishing.
Principle #2 Hips & Core
Turning to the ball with the hips
leading the way is such a huge part of hitting and is an area
that a majority of young players never fully develop. The
power that is generated by the hips in a baseball swing is based
on the principle of torque. The same way a golfer, boxer, tennis player, and pitcher use their core muscles to turn,
so do the best hitters in the game. Players need to "learn
to turn" to the ball.
Principle #3 Leveling
The greatest difference between a
linear and rotational hitter is their approach to the ball.
Leveling is the technique that gets the bat into the path of the
ball and is irrefutable as to whether it is really happening,
because it is. Dipping the back shoulder, dropping the
barrel of the bat level to the ball and swinging up through the
oncoming pitch.
The process of the elbow working up and
around the body is an essential part of leveling and the only
way a player can ever get the barrel where it needs to be.
Whether it is Pujols on a pitch up in the zone or Big Poppy
dropping down on a low one, one thing remains the same - they get
"level to the ball" and they are "swinging up" through it.
Principle #4 Ideal Impact
Ted Williams wrote that the
ultimate contact point is made when the barrel of the bat and
ball meet at a 90 degree angle. Another term that is used to
describe ideal impact is hitting with your hands "inside" the
ball. A couple things have to happen to make ideal impact;
one, you have to let the ball travel deep enough into the
hitting zone and two, your front elbow has to move up and around
your body.
Take a stand and make the hitting experience for your players
make a difference.
Principle #5 Extension
& The Power "V"
Finally, we will take a look at "Extension" and the long part of the swing, also referred to the Power "V". Great swing mechanics can be broken down into two simple elements; short and compact to the ball, long through the ball. It is this concept of "getting long" that really sets the great hitters apart. The longer a player can keep the bat in the plane of the pitch, the better chance they will hit the ball and make contact. Professional baseball players understand the importance of keeping the wrists square at contact and push through to the "V" without rolling through the ball; but rarely is it taught. You simply cannot ignore the significance of having a long swing and keeping the bat in the plane of the ball as long as possible. It is way too important. Teach your players short to the ball, long through it!
Great hitters transfer their
weight forward, let the back shoulder dip, pull with their hips, keep their hitters
box intact, get level to the ball, understand ideal impact, have a long finish, and swing up through the ball.
They are short and compact to the ball, and long through it.
Great hitters understand the importance of keeping the bat in the hitting zone as long as possible, and stay calm
and under control at the plate. Hitting is a series of linked
movements that all come together as one and is
based on the principle of slow to fast; nothing rushed, nothing
jerky, just nice and smooth, step and turn!
MLB players use
rotational mechanics. The very same mechanics that Ted Williams used, and the great hitters before and after him.
The best hitters in baseball are doing exactly the opposite of what a large majority of coaches in this country are teaching. They don't swing down and they are not trying to hit grounders
- sorry to say it.
Do you think for a second that Pujols ever goes up to the plate looking to hit the ball into the ground?
"The ParkerTraining System"
Here is what we have!
A complete step-by-step training system that mimics the exact mechanics used by the best players in the game.
What it will do for you!
It will change the way to teach and view hitting, forever! It will give you the tools to teach your players to be the very best they can possibly be.
This is what you do next!
Make a small investment in your players future and give them the opportunity to maximize their natural ability.
