Mechanics Of Hitting: Part Five - Stride

By Coach Theune

But wait there’s more! Did you ever wonder how some players can hit the ball to the opposite field with wicked power? I’ll tell you, it’s the stride! Say what? Yes it is the stride! Great hitters position themselves during the swing with the stride to get the sweet spot of the bat on the ball, its no secret that to hit the opposite way, you need to hit the ball at the back of the plate, but to do so with power takes positioning. You stride towards the plate for an outside pitch, straight ahead for a pitch down the middle and away from the plate for the inside pitch. (this is also why hand position is so important, it gives you that glorious thing called time to see the ball and react to it!!!) When a player is said to have “gone with the pitch” or has “turned on a pitch”, it means his stride positioned his body to get the sweet spot on the ball.


Here's something else that nay help, the way to hit a good curve ball is the same way you hit the outside pitch, position your body and hit the ball at the back of the plate.

Here are some keys to knowing your swing is getting there. After you swing you are still in balance. Your front foot is at a 45 degree angle inward. Your front leg is locked. Your head is down. You have hit the ball.

This is the physical aspect of hitting and it is extremely difficult to learn and maybe impossible to master. Many professionals argue that the mental aspect of hitting is even more important.