DEVELOPING GOOD SWING MECHANICS

Developing good swing mechanics requires discipline and lots of practice.  Whenever possible, practice swinging your bat while a knowledgeable person watches and provides you feedback.  Practice until your swing mechanics become instinctive, and you no longer have to think about them.

Precise repetition is the key to developing muscle memory and good hitting instincts.  When practicing by yourself, without a ball… be disciplined.   Visualize the pitcher, a moving ball and the quadrant of the strike zone that the ball will enter.   Swing at 50-75% power ... with perfect form.  Visualize making solid contact every time you swing. 

When hitting balls off a batting tee, if the tee is fully adjustable, adjust the ball height and move the tee inside, outside and middle of the plate.  If possible, practice hitting balls in all nine quadrants of the strike zone.

PRACTICE TECHNIQUE

• Pretend you are at bat in a critical game situation (i.e. The last inning of a tie game with the winning run on third base).  
• Get into a relaxed athletic stance with eyes focused on the pitcher.
• SET-UP & hover your bat.  
• Hold Set-up position for 2-3 seconds and then LOAD. 
• Imagine picking up the flight of the ball as it is released by the pitcher.
• STEP 
• Move your eyes as if you were tracking an actual pitch.  Follow the imaginary ball from the pitcher's hand to the hitting zone.
• Your brain must quickly decide if the pitch is a strike.
• If the imagined pitch is a strike, your brain must identify the quadrant of the strike zone that the ball will enter. 
• When your brain signals you to swing, initiate your swing by pivoting your rear foot and rotating your hips.  Remember:  Hips...then hands! 
• After hips begin to rotate, fire the knob of the bat towards the appropriate quadrant.   
• At precisely the right moment, snap your wrists and fire the barrel of your bat past your hands, to the appropriate quadrant.
• The barrel of the bat should enter the hitting zone at the same time the imaginary ball arrives.  Your arms should be almost fully extended at contact.  
• Finish your swing with chest to the pitcher, hands high and head down. 
• Maintain good balance throughout the swing.  A right-hand batter never wants to be falling away from first base as she completes her swing.
• Remember: When practicing your swing, quality is more important than quantity.   It is better to take 50 precise, well visualized swings; then 200 sloppy swings.   Careless, undisciplined swings may cause you to develop bad habits and delay the development of muscle memory and good hitting instincts.