Youth Baseball Hitting 101: A Guide for Parents and Coaches

You're standing on the sidelines, watching your kid swing and miss. Again. You can see the frustration building up in their eyes, and you're feeling it too. You've invested in the best gear, spent countless hours driving to practices and games, but something's missing. The hitting just isn't clicking.

Don't worry; you're not alone. Many parents and coaches face this challenge. But here's the good news: mastering the art of youth baseball hitting isn't as complicated as it seems. In this guide, we'll break down the fundamentals of hitting in simple, easy-to-follow steps. So let's turn that swing and miss into a home run, shall we?

The Grip: Setting the Foundation

Before your kid even steps into the batter's box, let's talk about the grip. Holding the bat incorrectly can set them up for failure right from the get-go. The general rule of thumb is to line up the knocking knuckles or make a box with those knuckles and the punching knuckles. Avoid lining up the punching knuckles; it leads to a less effective swing.

The Stance: Where It All Begins

When it comes to the stance, simplicity is key, especially for beginners. Have your child stand a little wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Their hands should be just in front of their front shoulder, with the elbow and shoulders level with the ground. The knob of the bat should be facing the catcher. This basic stance is the starting point for all great hitters.

The Load and Stride: Timing is Everything

Now, let's add some movement. The load and stride are crucial for timing and power. Teach your child to shift their weight back slightly (the load) and then stride forward. The stride should be about the size of their bat or inseam. This sets them up for a powerful swing.

Engaging the Lower Half: Squish the Bug

You've probably heard the term "squish the bug." It's a simple way to get kids to engage their hips and legs during the swing. After the load and stride, have them rotate their back foot as if they're squishing a bug. This action helps open up the hips and adds power to the swing.

Not everyone loves “squish the bug” as a way to get youth players to rotate their hips but it is a proven, simple way to get a beginner to fire their hips. They understand it, you understand it. Don’t overcomplicate things for beginners.

The Swing: Putting It All Together

Finally, the moment of truth—the swing. After the load and stride, it's time to unleash. The bat should move in a straight line from facing the catcher to facing the ball. At the point of contact, three things should happen:

• Head is behind or above the back knee.

• Shoelaces and hips are facing the pitcher.

• Front leg is straight.

Here is a great video breakdown of these concepts:

Youth Baseball Hitting Secret: Practice Makes Perfect

Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a perfect swing. The key is consistent practice and self-correction. Encourage your child to be mindful of these fundamentals during practice, and soon enough, you'll see a transformation in their hitting performance.

So there you have it—a straightforward guide to youth baseball hitting. Now, go out there and knock it out of the park!