Several years ago while traveling in Missouri, my son and I stopped off, as we often do, to take advantage of a commercial batting cage to get in some strokes. The entire facility, however, was rented out to a youth baseball team and several coaching youth baseball. So every stall was filled with team members taking their hitting turns. The coach was busily walking from one end of the cages to the other giving them baseball hitting tips, shouting out instruction to his hitters.

“Get that back elbow up!” was his main cry.

“Get the back elbow “ is one of the most common statements used to instruct young hitters. But just exactly what does it do for the hitters? And why do coaches feel it is so important?

I asked the coach, “Coach, are you getting ready to play a game?”

He answered , “Yes, when they finish their practice.”

Then I asked, ”Coach, why do you tell your players to get the back elbow up?”

And he answered honestly, “I really don’t know why. But everyone teaches it. So it must be a good thing.”

Let’s explore some baseball hitting mechanics. What happens when the back elbow is up as the hitter goes to the ball. Many students who come to me will have their elbow up, and we will immediately adjust the elbow so that it is not up, but approximately 45° from touching the backside.

By raising the elbow to 90°, we change the grip on the top hand, making the knuckles over-rotated, and unless the hitter makes an adjustment, prior to contact, this grip will cause him to roll his hands, losing club head accuracy to the ball.

What about the pros? Why do some of them have the back elbow up? Pros who start with their back elbow up in their stance make an adjustment as they go to the ball.

What should be the responsibility of the back elbow? It is to support the top hand on the bat. The elbow cannot do this if it is as high as the hand. It gives much better support to the grip and to the top hand by being under it—not equal to it.

When checking a hitter, as he approaches the ball, the elbow should be under the bat in the formation of a “V”—which we call a “Power-V”. This keeps the grip correct and the hands in a state of strength.

Coaching Youth Baseball Tips: The role of the top elbow is to support the bat. When it is up, this support is lost, and the grip is changed. This is not what we want.

“Get the Back Elbow Up” is one of the worst things that you can tell your players.

These techniques are fully explained in our baseball hitting drills web site for the “Super 8 Hitting System”, completely demonstrated in a series of baseball hitting videos, which includes many tips for coaching youth baseball.

TO SWING OR NOT TO SWING, FROM OUR SERIES OF BASEBALL COACHING YOUTH TIPS

 One of the most common words used in baseball coaching youth is the word “swing” as associated with a hitter as he “swings” at the ball.  And although swing is not a “nasty” word, it does give the impression that the bat makes a long arc as it goes to the ball.

            Visualize a bat swinging.  The club head is moving and arcing as it approaches the ball for contact.  This is what most people visualize when they think about “swinging”.   However, swinging is just not a good idea.  It doesn’t allow for the hitter to have the best chance for maximum contact.

            So, whether coaching youth baseball or older, here’s one of our baseball coaching tips:  A better idea to teach would be—no arcing or swinging the bat to make contact with the ball.  But rather, DRIVE the bat in a straight line to make contact.

            In simple words, we do not swing the bat to hit the ball!  We should DRIVE the bat to the ball in a straight line to get contact with the ball.  We get contact, and then the bat swings!  The bat should never arc until after contact.  So a better explanation of a pro-type action is that the batter doesn’t swing the bat, HE STROKES IT.

            The hitter who uses this stroke, which we refer to as the  “pro-stroke”, sends the bat in a straight line to contact the ball producing better contact and distance.

            This is what we call the “PRO STROKE”

These techniques are fully explained in our baseball training web site for the“Super 8 Hitting System”, completely demonstrated in a series of baseball hitting videos, which includes many baseball coaching tips. 

We have heard it through the ages for baseball coaching youth —“Get the bat off your shoulder!”

            It is a common phrase used by fans, coaches, parents, and players.

            The question is “Why is that so bad?”

            Here is what happens when a player moves his bat away from his body in his hitting stance.  As he does this, he consequently separates his hands from his body.  And he ends up more often than not with his hands out over the plate on contact.   This technique will produce only an arm swing, with no body support.  

            So why is that a problem?  Let’s look at it this way.  If you had to arm wrestle an opponent, would you want your hands away from your body?  Or would you want your hands close to the body for support?

            If you had to throw the best punch you could, would you hold your hands away from the body?  No, you would not.  Your hands would be in a fist right at the back shoulder.

            If you had to push an automobile, would you want your hands at your side, or would you want them in front of you?  Your body gives thrust to your hands.  So naturally, you would want your hands in front of you.

            Now, stand up like you’re at home plate with your bat out over the plate like it is in contact with the ball.  What’s behind your hands?  Nothing!  When this happens, your body gives your hands no support. 

            You might say…”I’ve seen major leaguers start with their hands away from their bodies.  So it must be good.”

            And the answer to that is –“Major leaguers make an adjustment. Before they direct the bat towards the pitch, they will pull their hands back to their bodies in the shoulder area.  We usually don’t see this, because it happens so quickly.  But research shows that is exactly what they do.

            Therefore, let us be clear.  You will ALWAYS be in a better position to hit better in baseball and distance if you keep your hands up and close to the back shoulder in your stance.   Now allow your hips to rotate, KEEPING YOUR HANDS AT THE SHOULDER until they move to contact the ball. Now your hands are in FRONT as they enter the contact zone, NOT OVER THE PLATE.

So if you want to learn how to hit better in baseball,  remember this rule:  The only time separation of the hands from the body occurs is when they move forward to hit the ball.

These techniques are fully explained in the “Super 8 Hitting System”, completely demonstrated in a series of baseball hitting videos, which includes many youth baseball tips. 

Baseball Coach Youth TIPS:

 Get the bat off the shoulder in the hitting stance?   No.

 Contact the ball over the plate?    No.