Insider Theories: Using Your Hands To Hit The Baseball

In all my years of baseball I can’t ever remember hearing two similar theories on driving the hands to the baseball. In fact, this step of the swing is largely over looked and under trained. Consequently, in my younger years, the most that was ever taught to me was, “keep your hands inside the ball” or “drive the knob back at the pitcher”. Although those are two great pieces of advice, they don’t have any real substance to them. For that reason, I am going to give you unique insight and give you some insider tricks on what it really means to drive the hands to the baseball.

For starters, driving the hands begins during the load portion of the swing. If you recall, this is when we recognize the pitch in one of our three zones, L for Left, C for Center, or R for right. Once we locate the zone where the pitch will be contacted, the hips drive to that particular zone, and then the hands follow. Without this recognition, it becomes much more difficult to stay through the zone and maximize force into the baseball.

Driving the hands to ball all begins with an imaginary 45 degree line that runs from the knob or wrists, to the infield in front of the plate. For beginners I use three separate lines, one to L, C, and R. As you might have guessed, players want to drive their hands roughly at this angle in effort to contact the baseball. In reality, the angle isn’t quite that steep, however, it helps players to focus on going down through the hitting zone at all times. If players are focused on driving down and forward, they are less likely have a loop or long drag in their swing.

Players who are more advanced, and begin to develop over time want drive with the outside of their bottom wrist toward the baseball. This advanced batting technique takes a bit more forearm strength, however it will effectively keep the wrists “cocked back” until they release through contact. Keeping the wrists angled back when driving the hands to the baseball allows players to snap through contact increasing their “bat whip” and force into the baseball.

The “Power V” begins with the cap of the bat, runs down to the hands, and along the top forearm of the player. The “Power V” will become more visible as players begins to drive his hips to the ball. The point of the V will be pointing towards the field of play and the opening of the V will be facing the umpire. As players approach contact, the power V begins to release until it turns into a more of a “Power L” after contact. When the bat begins to release from the V to L players begin to generate “bat whip” which results in increased power. Keep in mind that when a player reaches contact, his hands should still be slightly ahead of the baseball.

When done correctly, a player should feel that they are only driving their hands 2-4 inches away from their body before they contact the baseball. A common misconception and mistake that most players will make will be attacking the ball out in front of their body. This is caused by the common phrase, “see the ball to hit the bat”. In reality, if players can see the ball hit the bat, they are actually causing more harm then good. Why? The further the hands extend away from the body, the lower the bat speed and shorter the extension. This combination will decrease power and average.

Back to “seeing the baseball hit the bat”. I urge you to never tell you player this phrase. Why? Because it is impossible to do if you are swinging the bat correctly. If you have a chance to watch a hitter in slow motion, his eyes are actually fixed 10 to 15 feet our in front of his contact zone. By that time, you have already committed to a location and zone to swing the baseball bat. If you try to see the baseball hit the bat, you will either have to move your head which is never a good thing in hitting, or attack the ball in front. Either way, your setting yourself up for a lot of failure.

Another common mistake that will cause players to extend their hands to the baseball, is the idea of what it means to hit the ball square. In most demonstrations, coaches will show players that the hands are even with the barrel of the baseball bat on contact. From a players perspective, this looks like you should extend your hands to ball at a greater distance than really needs be. This false visual representation of the swing will cause players to strive for bad mechanics.

As a result, I use two concepts to help my players avoid such traps. First, I tell my players that they want to let the baseball travel so long, that they feel they are picking the baseball out of the catchers mitt. Second, players should feel like they are scraping their knuckles against the inside part of the baseball. These two concepts will help to keep your player in the mindset that they want to let the ball get deep in the zone and drive their hands ahead of the barrel.

Among many of the great drills out there to help players perform this step of the baseball swing, I like to use a drill I call “Chopping Wood”. “Chopping Wood” is a drill that latterly forces players to drive their hands towards the field of play while keeping the bat back. The biggest obstacle to making adjustments with players is taking them outside of their comfort zone. Most players will complain that something doesn’t feel comfortable or an adjustment doesn’t feel right. This is actually a good sign because that means you are making progress. If a player is comfortable with an adjustment that he has made for the first time then he really hasn’t made an adjustment.

To set-up this drill you will need two tees lined up one behind the other facing center field. Their should be a space of 12 inches to 18 inches in between the two batting tees. The back tee should be raised to a height that is just under chest level of the player. The front batting tee should be lowered to mid-thigh height. As a player approaches the batting drill, his front foot should line up approximately with the front tee.

If done correctly, players will actually take their hands inside the back tee before contact. If players swing over the back tee they are attacking the ball instead of using their hips and driving their hands correctly. The alignment of the two tees will force players to drive their hands inside and forward instead of sweeping around the ball or attacking it out in front as they so often do

If you incorporate this batting drill in your next batting training session you will see amazing improvement in your players ability to drive the baseball. He may struggle with it at first, but after 10 to 12 swings he will begin making adjustments and improve his mechanics. Always drive your hands down toward the zone and to the field you want to hit the baseball At the end of the day, this will help increase you average, power, and make you a more consistent hitter.

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