Get a Grip on Your Swing!

My guess is Barry Bonds knows!

Did you guys know that a hitter can actually improve the connection of his legs and his upper half during his swing by just improving the grip he has on his bat?

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy33:
Did you guys know that a hitter can actually improve the connection of his legs and his upper half during his swing by just improving the grip he has on his bat?

How about explaining this one a little further for me please.

quote:

Originally posted by coach2709:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy33:
Did you guys know that a hitter can actually improve the connection of his legs and his upper half during his swing by just improving the grip he has on his bat?

How about explaining this one a little further for me please.

When a player has a grip on the bat that places his top hand in a weak position, he will tend to use more/too much of his front side and upper body and less lower half.

When these hitters with weak grip positions swing, the effort level from the waist up is very high due to the lack of control and strength on the bat with the hands/grip. The barrel typically drops too far below the ball resulting in many flares and pop ups or roll overs to the pull side.

When hitters place their grip on the bat into a stronger more controllable slot, they will then be in a better position to use their lower half in sequence with their upper half and hands during the swing.

Any golfers in here would understand this concept.

The most efficient grip on the bat places the top hand at a slight angle on the handle. The bat should lay from the base of the pinky finger to the midpoint of the index finger. This will create the "trigger finger" pressure point on the bat for the hitter's index finger.

By laying the bat into the hands at this angle, the bottom three finger's of the top hand will be engaged and in position to control the barrel of the bat.

To understand better. Hold and point a bat straight out with your top hand. Now quickly move around the barrel of the bat. The grip that your hand has positioned itself into right now is where it should be in your stance.

Good luck.

Babe Ruth said that the only difference between the baseball swing and the golf swing is the 'stride'.

It would then be understood that a bat should be held in the same manner as a golf club with its shaped handle. (Mattingly Bat)

The Babe can be seen giving this advice in the short film 'Fancy Curves'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp8vA07JPGY

quote:

Originally posted by Quincy:
Babe Ruth said that the only difference between the baeball swing and the golf swing is the 'stride'.

It would then be understood that a bat should be held in the same manner as a golf club with its shaped handle. (Mattingly Bat)

The Babe can be seen giving this advice in the short film 'Fancy Curves'

Very good points. The golf grip and the baseball grip are similar especially when it comes to the "trigger finger" position of the top hand's index finger. This engages the "gripper fingers" properly with the bat.

Good example with the Mattingly bats. This product helps with these points as well. http://www.TheBatJack.com

Do not align knocking knuckles (because most MLB players don't do it that way)! Pujols and Ichiro are the exceptions. The knocking knuckles should be aligned between the big and knocking knuckles on the bottom hand. The bat should be in the crotch of the top hand and bottom hands.

Maybe that is the reason why most MLB players don't hit as well as Babe Ruth, Pujols or Ichiro.

Hold it like a golf club and swing it like a golf club. Greatest and fastest range of motion.

Remember, It's not all about the where the knuckles are lined up! It's about the use of specific fingers in a specific position on the handle.

The old "line up your knuckles here" line and the "hold the bat in your fingers" line are too vague.

Teaching the grip with using specific fingers and pressure points is what needs to be payed attention to more often.

http://www.TheBatJack.com

Gripping the bat with your knocking knuckles lined up, causes your right hand to point to the sky and your left hand to point towards the ground when you uncock your wrists (Right Handed Hitter) this prevents you from rolling over on the pitch.

Knocking knuckles aligned, hands side to side. This is a golf swing.

Using the same swing with a baseball bat allows a fluid swing. Hands side to side.

The 'box grip' is effective but not as free and fluid as the 'golf swing'.

As an example, taking the bat in hand with your grip of choice, hold the knob of the bat at your belly button. You will feel the differences in the range of motion of the various grips.

Greater range of motion is conducive to faster, controlled bat speed.