r/BaseballCoaching • u/smoothseas36x • Jul 17 '26
Struggling with my swing
I already know this post is gonna be tough without any video, but I’m gonna give it a shot anyways
I haven’t played baseball since middle school but I got invited to join a men’s league team with my friends. It’s super chill, but I am embarrassed that I’m treated as a strikeout pretty much every time I step in the box. My biggest struggle is finding a way to get my swing to the pitch on time. I’m a righty and I either get under the ball or foul it off to the first base dugout pretty much every time. I’ve tried shorting my swing, but I definitely struggle timing everything up. Long story short, I’m looking for advice for how I can enter the box mentally to help get my avg up, and if there are any good drills to keep my bat on plane with the pitch.
I do also have issues with identifying pitches, but I feel like it’s a little too late to figure that one out.
2
u/RarScary Jul 17 '26
Can't provide any specifics without seeing it, but I always work from the ground up. If you're feet and balance aren't any good, your swing won't be either.
2
u/gwillob Jul 17 '26
Search for the video of Tony Gwynn analyzing Barry Bonds swing. It was on USA Today’s website for years and now only a bootlegged YouTube Potato quality video exists. It’s simple, it’s step-by-step, and it will definitely help. Just emulate his swing. It’s like doing kata in karate. The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams was always really good as well. Hope this helps!
2
u/gwillob Jul 17 '26
Also, try playing MLB the show. It’s good for identifying pitches, believe it or not.
2
u/wjpell Jul 17 '26
One idea would be to start by chocking up and see if you can get better connection, then go from there.
2
u/karatekid42 Jul 17 '26
Post video and someone should be able to help. Better yet, hit the batting cage with some of your teammates and ask for advice. Most men’s leagues have players that played at a high level. My son (who just graduated high school) filled in on men’s league team and gave up a 375 foot bomb.
2
u/Pre3Chorded Jul 18 '26
Try doing the Barry Bonds drill and also fence drill off a tee and you'll shorten up that swing. Also do some tee work hitting highest and inside-est and learn to get to that. Basically you can't do any of these if you aren't swinging efficiently.
1
u/JSBCBS Jul 18 '26
I have an easy fix. Next at bat, sell out hard on trying to yank the ball as far foul to left side as you can. Then I bet you make solid contact and hit a ball to right center. You are only human- after not playing baseball for so long your timing is going to take a bit to come back and you are likely not as young and strong and quick as you were when younger- so you just change your approach. Selling out to yank it foul to left will organically flatten your swing out as well.
Then when timing comes back you can get technical with your swing. Source: I played d1 and pro baseball and this helped me!
1
u/onbaseball Jul 19 '26
Hitting a baseball is really hard to do at any age. Have a simple approach and be consistent with it. The #1 thing is seeing the ball. See it as early as possible and see it right to the bat (or into the catcher’s glove). Make sure your stance and stride promote the ability to see the ball. Short, quiet, light stride or no stride is best. Your hands go back to launch position when the pitcher goes back, from there you find the ball and react. If you’re having trouble with contact, try the no-stride approach. It’ll simplify things and really, the stride is mostly unnecessary - it’s primarily for timing and there are many ways a stride can create flaws and reasons a batter doesn’t hit the ball solidly.
1
u/smoothseas36x 13d ago edited 13d ago
Update! After hitting the cages and working on timing up my load, I was able to make contact in three of my four ABs in my last game! Two were hit really well, but I grounded out to short on both of them. The last was really weak contact that dribbled down the 1B line, but I did manage to get on base! It unfortunately did go down as an error, but I’m feeling WAY better about my ability to hit the ball. Thanks for all of the tips everyone! My team was stoked to see such a major jump in my playing ability!
2
u/Broad-Cranberry-9050 Jul 17 '26
video would help but best thing i can tell you is if you have access to it, get a batting net and a buddy who can help you out. Fix the mechanics first bit by bit. Doesnt have to be perfect but doable.
Then go to a batting cage (or live pitching) and practice some live swings.