Sheaitaintso's Baseball Corner!

Tips on Developing a Compact Baseball Swing

There aren’t many more important skills a baseball player can have than a compact swing. A swing that’s nice and compact can help batters hit the ball not only harder, but longer. You’ll need to develop bat speed, but you’ll also need to create bat quickness – the factor which determines how long you’ll be able to wait to swing at a pitch.

Every hitter who’s ever reached the major leagues was able to get to that level because of their compact swing. Major leaguers might strike out quite a bit, but it’s not because of the compactness of their swing – it’s because of their quick bats and the pitcher’s skill. Remember, though, that you won’t necessarily have bat quickness just because your swing is nice and compact.

Every young baseball player should try to develop a compact swing. In fact, learning how to build a compact swing is one of the most important things any aspiring baseball player can learn.

A compact swing is made within a fairly small area. The bat should be brought from the batter’s shoulder, which is the starting position, into impact with the ball inside the strike zone. The bat should always be near the batter’s head while it’s on its way to the ball. The batter should not try to extend the bat out too far or let it take an indirect path toward the ball. The more compact a batter’s swing is, the faster he will be able to get to the ball. That means he’ll be able to wait longer for the ball to arrive before needs to decide whether to swing.

It takes practice to develop a compact swing, but there are a few drills you can use. If there isn’t an available batting tee, coaches can stand to one side and in front of the batter. They then drop a baseball into the strike zone. The batter will always be late with his swing and miss the ball until he succeeds in developing a shorter, quicker, more compact swing.

Another drill that you can have your hitters try is have them stand in front of a wall or fence. Have them place the end of the bat on the wall or fence and the handle against their chest. From a regular batting stance have them swing. If they have a good compact swing, they should never hit the wall or fence. This drill teaches them to go after the ball with their hands more so than their arms.

A third drill that’s effective for teaching a compact swing can be done by a hitter by himself. Have him place a pillow or pad under his lead arm and then take full swings, but not let the pillow or pad fall out until he’s completed his swing and followed through. This drill eliminates long arm swings and develops the hands and forearms.

If you are looking to develop a good strong compact swing, these are a few tips that will help you. Remember that all major league baseball players have compact swing and this is one of the reasons that they are major league players. If you plan on playing on a higher level, a compact swing is very important.

About the author:
Bob Patterson has been the baseball coach for many high schools. He spends his time teaching hitting to young players and has authored many articles on the topic. Bob works for a batting cage store called Slugger’s Dugout.
Baseball Stars – NES Gameplay

Nintendo Resizable Hat – Mushroom & Star (Black) $21.95 Polybag Packaging. Limited collectible Caps originally made as prizes for Arcades and Prize Crane machines. Adjustable sizing. Japanese text tag….

Mario Bro: Red Baseball Cap Mario Hat $5.99 This is a baseball hat from the classic video game series, Mario Brothers! This hat is a replica red baseball cap for the character, Mario! The hat is about 23-inches around. It can be adjusted slightly larger or smaller with a tab in the back. Its a great item to wear everyday, or complete a costume!Dimension & Measurement:One size fits most, Approx 23-inches, adjustable…

Mario Super Sluggers (Nintendo Selects) $15.48 The Nintendo Selects Mario Super Sluggers Sports Video Game allows you to play one of the most renowned video game characters of all time, Super Mario. Play it with your Nintendo Wii as you defend the Baseball Kingdom the the Bowser; indulge yourself in this epic base ball gameplay, the Super Mario style. Moreover, all of the captains have unique star skills that let them do their respective speci…

Mario Super Sluggers $17.00 Whether a diehard fan of the Grand Old Game, or someone who has never even seen a ball, bat or glove in your life, Mario Super Sluggers turns your living room into a rocking, socking baseball extravaganza. Staring the ever-lovable Mario and over 40 of his friends from the Nintendo universe, Mario Super Sluggers builds on the social-gaming fun and movements millions have learned from playing Wii Sp…

Nicktoons MLB $19.99 Nicktoons MLB is a unique Arcade style baseball game that combines the best of Nickelodeon’s Nicktoons universe with Major League Baseball. The game pits fan favorite Nicktoons characters against real MLB superstars or allows the two to join forces on the same team as the player likes. Additional features include: two-player local multiplayer support, in-game collectibles and renditions of both …

MLB Power Pros $19.99 America’s favorite pastime gets a fun new twist as MLB Power Pros, the latest installment of Japan’s popular baseball videogame series, debuts on the Wii! Every MLB player are represented in the Power Pro character style – a miniature toy-like figurine model. Gamers will recognize their favorite baseball stars through comic usage of facial expressions, facial hair, and hair styles. Even each MLB b…

MLB Power Pros 2008 $12.01 MLB Power Pros 2008 delivers a unique flair to America’s favorite pastime with an original visual style, pick-up-and-play gameplay mechanics and several deep gameplay modes. With over ten different exciting game modes including the traditional Practice, Exhibition, League and Home Run Challenge modes, MLB Power Pros 2008 will bring fans closer to the action than ever before. Gamers also get the op…

MLB Superstars $1.41 MLB Superstars takes America’s favorite pastime into a totally new realm by bringing fans’ favorite players and teams out of their natural environments and showcasing them in 10 different mini-games. Baseball fans can get a different look at their favorite sport in MLB Superstars, a light-hearted collection of mini-games that serve as an alternative to traditional baseball simulations. Gamers can …

Comments are closed.