We have talked several times about the bat path and its importance. It is one of the hardest parts of the swing to master because it is a reaction and hard to control. There a several moving parts that all need to be coordinated to optimize it. If one or more breaks down, the bat gets “offline” with the pitch and leads to inconsistent contact. It must be practiced over and over again to perfect.
If you watch any major league game on tv, the view is always from behind the pitcher or the centerfield camera. From this viewpoint, it is easy to see why major leaguers are successful, their bat path is flat. That is, the barrel remains on the same plane throughout their swing, from start to finish. Why is this important? It keeps the barrel behind the ball (online) for the longest amount of time, which leads to consistent contact.
As a hitting instructor, a vast amount of my time is delegated to perfecting that path. As a hitter, a great way to practice that path is swinging a bat in front of a mirror. This gives you the “centerfield camera” view you see on tv. Your swing should start with your hands near your back shoulder with the bat at about a 45 degree angle and finish with your hands at your front shoulder with the bat at the same angle. That is “on plane”. Practice it slowly at first to get the feel of it and move to more game-speed swings. If you do not have a full-length mirror handy, have your dad or coach watch you swing from in front of you for feedback.
What to watch for:
1. The angle of the barrel as the swing begins (does it drop and veer off 45 degree angle).
2. The angle of the barrel after contact (does it continue up or down and veer off 45 degree angle).
Baseball Zone’s Memberships [1] give parents and coaches access to more information on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching and defense as well as a lot of material on practicing, training and equipment.
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