Hitting: Swing Mechanics Eight Phases of the Swing
A. Nine Phases of the Swing
1. Phase #1 ….. Stance
2. Phase #2 ….. Load and Coil
3. Phase #3 ….. Stride and Cock the Bat
4. Phase #4 ….. Pivot: Approach or Drive Position
5. Phase #5 ….. Launch the Bat / Contact
6. Phase #6 ….. Extension #1
7. Phase #7 ….. Extension #2
8. Phase #8 ….. Finish and Follow Through
* Note: All phases of the swing are explained on the following pages. Please note that
to be a good hitter you “ Have to want to hit ! ”
Page # 1
Hitting Mechanics: The Swing Cont….
A. PHASE #1 ….. The Stance
1. The feet are shoulder width. _____
2. The feet are point forward or slightly. _____
3. The knees are flexed and inside the knees. _____
4. The back kneecap is inside the big toe, but within the back spike. _____
5. The hips are stacked and level. _____
6. Shoulders stacked and start level. _____
7. Head is turned and stacked evenly on the shoulders. _____
8. Both Eyes are focused on the bill of the cap of the pitcher. _____
9. Hands are at the top of the zone. _____ Bat on the shoulder or just off the shoulder!
10. Arms and elbows form a box and create a bat angle (Prayer Position). ______
a. Front arm forms an “L”
b. back arm forms a “V”
11. Proper grip. _____
12. Loose and relaxed with no tension in the back and shoulders. _____
a. Primary Muscles vs. Secondary Muscles
b. Routines, Rhythm, and Tempo
Page # 2
Hitting Mechanics: The Swing Cont….
A. PHASE #1 ….. The Stance
Page # 3
B. PHASE #2 ….. The Load or Coil
1. Sway or Coil into your load. _____
2. Weight transfers back to go forward. _____
a. Weight shifts to back leg
b. Front knee will flex as the front heel will lift off the ground.
3. The hands go back with the hips and point the knob of the bat to the catcher,
but do not wrap the bat. ______
a. This loads the bottom hand and will cock the wrist and it will load the hands
just outside the back shoulder. (Radial Deviation)
b. Rock the Cradle.
c. Rhythmic Action.
4. The head will follow the hands back; which helps transfer weight back. _____
a. Hips load belly button from the middle of the plate to the tip
of the plate
b. Shoulders remain on line with the pitcher while loading of the hips.
5. Loose and relaxed with no tension in the back and shoulders. _____
6. Eyes stay on a focal point or release point of the pitcher. ______
Page # 4
B. PHASE #2 ….. The Load or Coil
Page # 5
C. PHASE #3 ….. Stride and Cock the Bat
1. Stride is no more than 2”, 3" to 4" : ______
a. It is locked in to the length of the bat.
2. Stride to the inside ball of the front foot with front heel just off the ground. _____
a. You must get “ Stronger to the Ball “ and flexed front leg.
1.) All 6 joints in the front side stay together and take you to the ball.
a.) Ankle Joint
b.) Knee Joint
c.) Hip Joint
d.) Shoulder Joint
e.) Elbow Joint
f.) Wrist Joint
3. Front side knee, hip, and torso and will remain flexed. _____
4. Gain Momentum into the approach. Head moves to a mid-point. ______
5. Established a "POWER BASE" for the hit phases of our swing. _____
6. Hands finish load and remain back and maintain shoulder alignment
throughout the stride. _____
7. Lever Assembly Maintain the Box and Bat Angle and Moves into a Position
of Power with or without the 10 degree rule. _____
Page # 6
C. PHASE #3 ….. Stride and Cock the Bat
Page # 7
D. PHASE #4 ….. Approach or Drive Position
1. Rear foot is anchored to the ground with rear ball of back foot and
big toe. _____
2. Lower body mechanics allow for a top level swing to be supported, efficient,
coordinated and explosive. _____
3. Front side knee, hip, and torso and will remain flexed. _____
4. Front foot gets down. ______
5. Back hip starts the rotational phase of the swing and turns the back knee. _____
6. Shoulders remain aligned with the pitcher and do not turn with the initial hip
action. Slight back shoulder delay ______
7. Back Elbow drops into the slot. _____
8. Back heel can come up and partial turn with hip action. _____
9. Hips remain level. _____
10. Shoulders start level and then adjust to the level of the pitch. _____
11. Head has no movement forward and rotates around the spine. _____
12. Spine has slight tilt. _____
13. Hands remain back and have not reacted. _____
14. Shine the knob of the bat on the baseball. _____
15. You haven't started your swing. _____
16. Lever Assembly Maintain the Box and Bat Angle and Moves into a Position
of Power with or without the 10 degree rule. _____
17. You can still take the pitch from this position. _____
Page # 8
D. PHASE #4 ….. Approach or Drive Position
Page # 9
E. PHASE #5 ….. Launch the Bat to Contact
1. Hips turn the bat. Shoulders adjust to the level of the pitch _____
2. Hands stay back and travel in a curved path they have not reacted out to the baseball. _____
3. Pull the bat with the bottom hand in a curved path. _____
a. Head stays down to keep front shoulder in and keeps you from
pulling off the ball.
4. Barrel starts above the hands and inside the baseball. _____
5. Approach the ball and snap the bat. _____
a. Six back side joints stay together to stay stronger through the ball.
1.) backside ankle
2.) backside knee
3.) backside hip
4.) backside wrist
5.) backside elbow
6.) backside shoulder
b. Pressure Points and Power Collectors are active for power and consistency.
1.) Lead part of the bottom wrist and bottom hand two fingers
2.) The Y of the top hand and the top hand index finger
3.) The back forearm and the back elbow
4.) The lead arm and the front side torso
6. Knocking knuckles of top hand take a picture of the pitch. _____
7. We snap the bat to the baseball with a 4 deep stroke. Short, quick, and direct. _____
a. Weight
b. Hands
c. Head
d. Eyes
8. Steady, quiet head, with bill of helmet down for line drives and 3 ball theory. ______
9. Firm front side. ______
Page # 10
E. PHASE #5 ….. Launch the Bat
Page # 11
F. PHASE #6 ….. Contact
1. Belly button will take a picture of the pitch. _____
2. You will hip turn 90 degrees on a baseball middle or middle in. _____
3. You will hip flex 45 degrees on a baseball on the outside of the plate. _____
4. Hips will remain level. _____
5. Shoulders have adjusted to the level of the pitch. _____
6. We still have a 4 deep stroke. _____
a. Weight
b. Hands
c. Head
d. Eyes
7. Steady, quiet head, with bill of helmet down for line drives and 3 ball theory. ______
8. Firm front side. ______
9. Palm up and palm down at contact. _____
10. Front arm and back arm remain flexed because they are on a circular path and not
extending out to the ball, thus locking out the arms. _____
11. If you use your hips the back knee kneecap will be in front of the belly button. _____
12. Good backside “L” with balance of a 4 deep swing.
Page # 12
F. PHASE #6 ….. Contact
Page # 13
F. PHASE #6 ….. Contact
Page # 14
G. PHASE #7 ….. Extension #1
1. Extend top hand under the bat. _____
2. The under / under rule is in effect. _____
3. Head and eyes transition from out front tracking the path of the ball all
the way in to contact, to behind the bat as the bat leads the head and eyes
as the baseball is on the way back out. _____
4. Hands acts like a hammer taking on a hammer approach. _____
5. Bat will work itself diagonally up as you go through the ball. _____
7. No wrist rollover has occurred in the swing. _____
8. Three ball theory on extension. _____
a. Contact Ball 1
b. Extend and Drive Ball 2
c. Drive Again Ball 3
Page # 15
G. PHASE #7 ….. Extension #1
Page # 16
H. PHASE #8 ….. Extension #2
1. Top hand stays under the bat. ______
2. Continuation of 1'st extension. ______
3. Back shoulder rotates forward. ______
4. Weight will flow slightly back. ______
5. Lead arm begins to form a V. _____
6. Back arm extends across the body and begins to form an L. _____
7. The head stays down. _____
8. The lead eye stays inside the stride leg thigh. ______
9. The belly button takes a picture of the pitch. _____
10. The wrist have not yet began to roll. ______
11. Short bat path to finish. ____
12. Good Backside L . _____
Page # 17
Extension #2 …. Cont.
Page # 18
I. PHASE #9 ….. Finish and Follow Through
1. Bat Arc or Path is Narrow not wide or Loopy… i.e. Flying Out
2. Head will Transfer Slightly back as Momentum and energy forward
is imparted on the ball, absorbing the energy of the ball and directing it
out of the Swing. ______
3. Hands will Finish around the Top of the Back Shoulder with the Knob
slightly above the Barrel. ______
4. Barrel will finish around the top of the numbers in a short bat path. _____
5. Eyes will stay Between the Feet. ______
a. The eyes will Travel from Contact to 3 -7 degrees out as the ball
flys back out of the hitting Zone.
6. Belly Button, Top of Back Knee, and Back Foot Shoe Strings take a Picture
of the Ball … Where it was hit!
7. Balanced Back Side "L"
Page # 19
I. PHASE #9 ….. Finish and Follow Through
Key Notes: " The swing must have Balance, Flex, and a Strong Front Side from start to finish."
" You make adjustments to your swing using the Brain, Body, and Bat. In that order!"
Page # 20