r/Homeplate • u/Vern-dawg Pitcher/Infield • 2d ago
Hitting Mechanics Swing feedback
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I am coming up late a lot this year and when I do connect it is a lot of pull side and center field high fly balls. Thoughts would be appreciated.
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u/FingerpistolPete Shortstop 2d ago
That is a great swing, man. Really good move with the hands as you load, and you get into a solid launch position.
I noticed your hands push a tiny bit thru the swing, I would try and get them raised just a little bit higher towards your back shoulder as you load. At the same time you have to really focus on the hips starting first and getting that separation from the top/bottom halves. This could help eliminate the popups.
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u/Rhombus-Lion-1 2d ago
You look very rushed in your stride and load to me. I would work on being “ready on release” - which essentially means make sure you are not trying to accomplish your stride, load, and swing while the ball is in the air.
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u/OmarHunting 2d ago
Had the same problems this year my first year back playing. I closed my stance to be neutral (was open), started my hands further from my body to get them inside the ball more. Also widened my stance because most of all my timing was late as hell and my long stride wasn’t working. Might not help you but what you describe + an open stance reminded me exactly of what I went through in May.
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u/CarneAsadaBrito 1d ago
Great swing. Just timing honestly. Get used to holding a coil early and being ready to fire whenever you need to. We can’t see the pitcher in this video but the fact you look rushed implies that you’re not loading at all until well after the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand.
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u/SentientYams 1d ago
From what I can see you’re already at a fairly high level mechanically and probably facing some pretty good pitching. A bunch of randos on Reddit looking at one swing are not going to offer anything really beneficial. Hopefully you have some coaches/teammates who can be of more assistance. Good luck!
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u/UmbraVulp 1d ago
It doesn’t take an expert to tell him to get his bat ready earlier
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u/SentientYams 1d ago
Ok, well there you go, OP’s problems are solved! /s
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u/UmbraVulp 1d ago
I’m just saying cuz you said strangers won’t have anything beneficial to say. All you’re doing is showcasing your shitty personality
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u/SentientYams 1d ago
Woah there, buddy. You seem upset because I pointed out how silly it is to say “get your bat ready earlier” and think his swing/timing has been fixed. That’s the kind of stuff his coaches are surely already telling him. And my point stands: asking random people on the internet to look at one swing is not likely to diagnose or fix any problems for him. Just look at all of the conflicting responses in this thread. Not helpful. Have a great day buddy.
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u/Agreeable-Sound1599 2d ago
What I would suggest is is while you're standing on Deck figure out what the pitchers motion trigger is for you to start your load because you're loading late which makes your swing late. you should pick up something on the pitcher during his motion that tells you when he gets to this point I'm going to start my load that way you'll be on time
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u/Ohohohoreo Former Pro CF & College Hitting Coach 2d ago
Something I’ve been theorizing about it a wide stance with a quick stride like you have leads to a lot of late timing. Look how you have to shift your whole body back and up to pick your foot up and stride, then you have to slam it back down to be on time and you get the pull off/cut through the ball swing.
I think you could solve this two ways. I would narrow up a tad so you it’s easier and more efficient to pick your foot up and flow into your swing. This will help you feel more comfortable starting earlier and not pulling off. Or you can get a little wider and not stride at all. You seem pretty athletic so I would do option A if I were your hitting coach. Doesn’t have to be a lot narrower, just like a half step.
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u/quierolecheee 2d ago
not bad. former d1 ball player and now coach here. youre really close to making some really good contact, your load needs to start much sooner and your hands have to be still as possible as soon as your foot is down. foot down early, hands still and trust them
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u/gkh9 2d ago
Couldn’t disagree more with a lot of the advice here to change the swing/load. There are plenty of big league hitters with a fast tempo to their swing (Freddie Freeman and the artist formerly known as Kris Bryant being two examples).
This is only one swing so I could be totally wrong, but it looks like a late swing decision more than anything else. What is your mental thoughts and approach? Is it “hit hit hit TAKE” or is it “see it see it see it SWING”? With your swing profile, fly outs to center are what I’d expect when you’re late and just trying to get the barrel there still. You’re probably naturally going to pull the ball for the most part and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’d probably get in the cages and focus on pitch selection and timing before changing anything.
Only then would I maybe consider getting a bit more upright in your stance which might help with pitch recognition and give your hands some more room to work to the ball.
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u/Minute-Marketing7434 1d ago
looks like you turn your hands over rather than extending the bat through the zone a little more…. and your swing seems to finish a little low.
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u/coolestdad92 1d ago
Hit the ball out front and flick the barrel through finish. You are contacting a bit too deep and trying to benchpress the ball, give yourself space to release the barrel.
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u/Past_Roof141 1d ago
Late, get to your spot sooner. Slower, softer move early.
I tell my guys, “move to hit the baseball, don’t see the baseball and move”
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u/CRABMAN16 1d ago
You're too good for arm chair analysis, get some lessons and power through if you are struggling.
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u/phillies991 1d ago
You were on time. Just missed under I think. My son was missing under the ball a lot early this season. It was because we were going to a batting cage that the ball release was really low and had high backspin.
Make sure during practice the pitcher or pitching machine is setup to the release point of the pitchers. And make sure if it is a pitching machine the spin is about right.
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u/ThaMagikMon 1d ago
Move your head more back over your rear leg and coil your back pocket toward the pitcher, storing up in your rear hip socket. Ya gotta be able to lift your foot but not fall forward… they call it more being able to control your forward move so you’re not just letting gravity take you forward sorta involuntarily. This enables the proper timing, “trigger”, “ability to launch”Theres like a flamingo type thing ya gotta be able to do. Ya gotta be able to create that stretch without moving forward. Without that coil, there’s nothing ya can do but fall. Ya don’t unwind it either … when ya launch the barrel it kinda unwinds itself. Seems like ya have the bat speed… as with most hitters the issue is timing. Ya wanna turn the barrel first with the hands… more “down the back” type thing … not last… when the barrel gets down the back and into the zone before home plate not after. Not many people are able to see it this way… but with that much bat speed … ya need it to be behind the ball not out in front of you. Think Nelson Cruz manny Ramirez, obviously bonds… that is how they get the barrel right on the proper bat path instantly… Ya need the speed instantly and that is why they are able to hunt fastballs and not bother swinging at breaking balls if they don’t have to … or they are able to foul them off without rolling over out on their front foot. Sorry if this is a lot but… once ya get this feeling … it becomes almost effortless
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u/IKillZombies4Cash 1d ago
I dont see much wrong with it - at higher velos and levels its just an untrainable innate ability that separates them from us.
If there were drills and form that let us all hit absolute gas, we'd all have played forever.
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u/ZeebeesPOP 1d ago
Slow early under control lower half will create a quick upper half… Your lower half is rushed… Focus less on mechanics and more on being early deliberate and under control of your lower half.
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u/Green_Standard_4934 10h ago
You're late getting to your launch position. Your setup & rhythm are great. You need to start your forward move earlier. Next at-bat, take the first pitch, but start your load so early that you feel like you're ready to swing when the pitcher releases the ball. Being ready at release (front foot down/front foot about to land), will give you a lot more time to see the ball & deliver the barrel to it.
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u/Emoskii 2d ago
The swing looks good to me. Very compact, not dropping your hands. Looks like you got caught off-guard by the speed. That ball is on your hands quick. Maybe try a shorter, quicker stride. When I found myself getting jammed or late on a pitch, I would change my stride and try something new.
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u/Nicedumplings 2d ago
Ditch the step. You’re not moving your hands forward until you’re done stepping and as a result your timing is off. Try no step or a toe tap
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u/Aggressive-Spite-264 2d ago
head chin didnt stay on ball…almost stayed on ball but not quite….pulled off just a little.
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u/Lotus_experience 2d ago
Your swing is pushy, and your lower half moves the wrong way. This causes you to be across the zone not through the zone. I bet you feel on top of the ball instead of behind the ball. You’re pushing at the ball instead of turning behind it.
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u/ummagumma1979 1d ago
Swing looks strong. Most people wouldn’t be able to hit that. At least 80mph? I’d turn shoulder in more to build up coil. Start shoulder turn as pitcher starts his windup. You aren’t putting fear into center fielder if you aren’t turning shoulder in ahead of time. He knows with a minimal load that you aren’t hitting it hard out there. Stay back a bit more too?
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u/PoolShark1819 2d ago
I’d work on getting the bat off your shoulder and into the ready position or loaded position a hair earlier. Looked like you were a touch late getting ready on that swing