Hitting

  We will look at both Major D1 Softball Players and Major League Baseball Players to examine if the High Level Swing is different. We will look at several different players to show that basically each player has almost the same swing.

We will also discuss some of the hitting cues many instructors and coaches teach that is not what the high level player swings like. Things like squish the bug, or keep a level swing are cues you will hear on every practice field or game field. Mainly it is because it was how they were taught many, many years ago.

Let me pose a question; who are the best hitters? I would answer this by saying that MLB players are the best hitters. Let's face it, most of these players have multi-million dollar contracts because of their hitting. No different in Softball, most kids get signed to a Major D1 College because they can hit. The old saying, "If you can hit, we'll find a place for you" rings true at all levels. So if MLB players are the best hitters, why wouldn't we want to teach our hitters to swing the same way? Many people think that the high level swing is just for Homerun hitters; Not true. The goal of the high level swing is to hit the ball as hard as you can that results in the ball getting through the infield faster, or past the outfielders. Homeruns come when everything works out perfectly.

Take a look at Albert Pujols and Megan Bush's swings. Are they really different, or both basically the same swing?

Hitting is one of the hardest things to do in sports. Attempting to hit a round ball, with a round tube, and hit it square is very difficult. Not to mention trying to hit a ball that is moving up / down / left / right or a combination.

Weight Transfer 

In order to hit the ball hard, you must have a weight transfer. Many people believe this is the difference between linear and rotational hitting. Not true, in both styles there is a weight transfer.

Take a look at this video, the image on the left shows improper weight transfer. With a "soft" front knee her weight continues forward. The image on the right side is the proper weight transfer into the swing. She uses the force of her weight transfer with a "solid" front side. Which one probably hits the ball harder?

Proper weight transfer with proper technique can produce very hard hits. Take a look at Caitlin Benyi, she wasn't a big girl but had very good power numbers while at UCLA

In all these clips, the players land on a "soft knee", but then stiffen the front side to stop the forward momentium.

Squish the Bug

Many instructors advocate the hitting cue "Squish the bug", meaning twisting the back foot to start the hips. While I understand why instructors do this, typically it is what they have been taught 20 years ago, it is NOT how the high level player swings.

Take a look at Caitlin Benyi during her years at UCLA, does she "Squish the Bug"?

How about Kristen Rivera from University of Washington, what is her back foot doing?

Last, how about Chrystal Bustos of Team USA, does she twist her back foot to start the hips?

If these high level athletes are not squishing the bug, then why do we teach our kids to? Analyze these videos and see if the hips lead, or the back foot leads.

How about some MLB Players, if they actually squish the bug, how can their back foot be on the toes or even off the ground?

Hips, Shoulders, Hands

In the high level swing you need to have separation between hips and shoulders. Think of it like twisting a rubber band, then letting it go. When the hips begin rotating before the shoulders the big core muscles stretch which gives you power through the swing.

Here is a great example of Ken Griffey Jr having hip separation. Look at his hips and shoulders.

Here is Findley from the University of Michigan, do the hips lead?

A shot of Herrera from UCLA, starting to get the picture?

Swing Level / Hit Down on the Ball

How many times have you heard these instructions to hitters?  Let's look at these and see if that is what the best hitters actually do. 

Often times when I ask players if they have been taught to swing level (meaning the bat is level with the ground) and they say yes, I ask them to show me how they hit a pitch at the knees while maintaining a level swing. The answer is; They can't.

There are some problems that arise when players attempt to swing level. Take a look at this video, the player here is attempting to maintain a level swing on a somewhat lower pitch. Notice that he drops his hands in order to get the bat on the same plane as the pitch. Dropping the hands also can lead to Bat Drag (which is not a good thing). Bat Drag happens when the elbows get ahead of the hands and the bat head cannot whip through the ball.

Here is another example of someone attempting to hit a low pitch. Notice how his back and front knees dip down a bit kind of like a squat.

The High Level Swing promotes keeping your hands above the ball, and using a "Tilt" to adjust to the pitch plane, lower pitches require more tilt, while pitches up in the zone require less tilt. The tilt is done by bending at the waist, don't get this confused with an uppercut swing. The uppercut swing happens when the back side begins to collapse. Here is a great photo showing the tilt of pitches in different zones.

1st frame pitch low and in, 2nd frame pitch low and away (more tilt), 3rd frame pitch high and away (less tilt).

Let's look at Team USA hitting off a Tee, do any of these hitters show a level swing?

The lines show there is a direct link to shoulder tilt and bat angle. Both are almost on the same angle. Notice the hands? Hands above the ball.

More shots showing where the hands are and tilt

In the above clip, notice how Pujols back elbow drops next to the hip and does not get in front of the hands? He shows good separation between hips and shoulders, then he maintains connection with shoulders and hands.

Swing Down on the Ball

Again I have heard many many instructors teaching this. The whole idea of hitting is to have the bat head on the plane of the pitch as long as possible in order to strike the ball.

Take a look at this and tell me how long the bat stays in the hitting zone.

I know, slappers are taught to swing down. Slappers are a different breed and we are talking hitting not slapping.

Sometimes this approach can aid the player in situational hitting (we will talk about later) where a much needed groundball is hit.

Point of Contact (extension at POC or not?)

The goal of the High Level Swing is to have the ball at or very near the front foot at the Point of Contact. Depending upon pitch location will determine the POC.

There are numerous instructors that teach full extension (power V) at point of contact. We will look again to see if those high level players actually do that.

Here is an overhead video that shows what extension at POC looks like

Here is a shot of a former MLB player showing what an extension swing looks like. Greg Luzinski was a big guy, but he really only had average power numbers. Notice how he does not get his lower half into the swing, it's mainly upper body and arms.

There are some major instructors that teach extension at POC, here is what they are teaching. Now compare those to the high level swing, does it look even close?

Even some current MLB players demonstrate how to hit, look at this photo, the photo on the right Alex Rodriquez and Derek Jeter are showing what the swing should look like at POC, compared to A-Rod's photo on the left an in-game hit. Does that look the same?

Here are several photos of different MLB players hitting the ball. Do any of them show the Power V at POC?

The High Level Swing shows the back elbow in what is called the "Power L", extension comes well after the POC.

Now depending on where the pitch is, depends upon how much extension at POC. Here you can see Jason Giambi hitting a pitch on the outside corner. Notice he is extended however his back elbow is still bent somewhat.

Extension to Finish

In the above videos and photos you can see that at POC the back elbow is in the Power L. From the POC, then we want to get into the Power V. 

We want a big long finish. Releasing the top hand or maintaining a 2 hand grip is personal prefrence.

Notice how Pujols extends AFTER POC

The Power V does not make a High Level Swing, but is a component of the high Level Swing

More finishes

SITUATIONAL HITTING

Many times hitters will find themselves in a situation where they just need to put the ball into play. Wether it is hitting with 2 strikes or a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs. Situational hitting is a frame of mind we want our hitters thinking about. "What can I do to get this run across", is the mindset we want, not "I hope I don't strike out".

Hitting with 2 Strikes

When you find yourself behind in the count, with 2 strikes, you have to open up the "zone". Think of it as enlarging the plate 1 ball width all the way around. You can shorten up the swing just to make contact. Contact isn't good enough if you can't place the ball in the general area you want. It does no good to pop up or hit a dinker back to the pitcher. Do not let the umpire make the call on a strike, if it is close enough for him to call a strike, then it's close enough for you to hit it.