Should I swing Level, swing down or have a slight upper cut? Part II
In Part one, we talked about staying on plane and getting through the ball to create backspin. So what is swing plane and why should we learn how to create backspin on the ball?
- Will add 40-50 feet of distance on that ball you really connected with.
- Low, backspin line drives have the best chance to split the gaps in the outfield.
- Backspin ground balls get through the infield quicker than a ball that is “topped” because the topped ball has a tendency to “check” up and give the fielder an easier hop to field.
- A swing that creates backspin is on the plane of the pitch longer which means more of a chance to make solid contact or intersect with the ball.
So how can we turn our swing into a gap to gap, backspin line drive hitting machine?
Well first, you will have to want to change and be ok with feeling physically uncomfortable when you change your swing. If you commit (or get your player to buy in and commit to the change) here are a few quality drills and training aids that you can use.
- Double Tee drill: Click HERE to see my drill video on how to use the double tee drill.
- Use the Advanced Skills Tee by Muhl Tech. I am a bit biased because I sell this tee on CBI site, but I use this tee for most practices, lessons and camps that I run. It gets quick results and does not let a player get away with dropping the barrel of the bat out of the proper swing plane.
- Use the Ultra-Instructoswing by Louisville Slugger. To see demos of this tee click HERE. The patented rubber-coated good habit bars help prevent casting, chopping, or uppercutting by supplying instant feedback to the batter on bad swings.