Mechanics: Perfect Your Swing

​In order to perfect your swing you must first understand each moving component and its purpose.  This helps you identify problem areas when they arise making adjustments more like small tweaks.

Below is a step-by-step breakdown of the way we teach hitting at C5T with definition and illustrations showing you the order of a "perfect swing."

​Step 1: Front Hip Back

Here the hitter has taken his stride reaching launch position with his weight distributed evenly and is about to begin his attack.  His front hip is going back helping him clear his front-side. Most young hitters begin their swings with their back-sides causing them to spin and drop which results in weak fly balls and rollovers to their pull side.

Step 2 & 3: Back Elbow Thru / Back Side Turn

​I like to combine these two moves when I teach so my hitters maintain a smooth transition in these phases.  Here the hitters back elbow and back hip are on the same page getting that bat on plane forming what looks like the letter "V" between his bottom hand (lead-arm) and top hand.  These steps are so important, because here is where we are generating bat-speed and direction. Young hitters have issues with "casting" where their lead arm and back elbow are going out causing them to get around the ball.  Our goal is to drive the ball out, so we must stay strong during these steps and think about getting thru the ball.

Step Four: Stay behind the ball

As the hitter approaches contact look at how his hands have gotten out in front and his body is right behind them stacked.  Most young hitters tend to use too much body during this step causing them to leak and lose their "slant" (the angle from their front foot to their head) and come off their legs.  

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Here the hitter has reached contact and you can noticeably see the Big Letter "L" in his top-hand and is nowhere close to full extension.  Most young hitters are fully extended or locked out at this step causing them to cut their swing off and rollover after contact.

Here the hitter has gotten all the way through the ball and is STILL ON HIS LEGS WITH HIS HEAD DOWN!  I stress these two points, because young hitters are always in a rush to come up off their legs and pull their head up to find the ball.  Our finish is so important, as it reflects balance & strength. If we are off balance at the end of our swing, chances are something went wrong with steps 1 - 5.  If we don't have balance we don't have a swing. 

At C5T we take our time to help hitters learn each step through drills that stress body mechanics/positioning, coaching you to eliminate unnecessary moves helping you "Perfect Your Swing."

Editorial by:
Eric Crozier
C5T "Teaching hitters the Major League Way"

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