1. Line
up your feet. – Line up your
front foot with the front corner of home plate.
Spread your legs so your feet are as wide as
your shoulders or a little wider.
2. “Piazza
Tap” – Holding the bat
in your bottom hand; reach across and touch
the outside part of home plate with the tip
of your bat. You should stand as far away from
the plate as you can comfortably and be able
to reach a pitch on the outside part of home
plate.
3. Resting your Bat –
Bring your bat up and rest it on your shoulder
at a 45 degree angle. You should be able to
touch your chest with your top thumb.
4. “Check your Knucks”
– Look down and check your knuckle alignment
for the proper grip. Your middle knuckles or
“Door Knocking” knuckles should
be lined up together. Point your fingers.
5. Take a Deep Breath –
A deep cleansing breath tells your coach, and
you, that you are focused and ready
to hit. There are no distractions.
6. Bend your knees –
and bend slightly at the waist. Get comfortable
in an athletic position
7. Launch – Lift your
hands straight up. Your hands should be between
your shoulder and the ear or ear hole on helmet
8. Stride and Load –
Take a short stride with your front foot directly
toward the pitcher. (The stride is optional.)
Take your hands back and up
slightly. Feel as though there is a large rubber
band that connects the big toe on your front
foot with the knob or bottom of the bat. As
you stride and load you are slightly stretching
the rubber band.
9. “SWING IT LIKE YOU MEAN
IT” Pretend that the baseball
is a little piñata filled with candy.
Hit it hard so all the candy falls out.
10. Finish High and Watch it Fly –
After you swing, finish with the follow through
at least shoulder high and freeze your position.
This way you can check your balance and make
any needed adjustments.
