This post is part of a series – click ‘previous’ or ‘next’ at the bottom of this page for more.
Power AND Path Makes a Complete Hitter:
It’s one thing to generate bat speed, but quite another to apply it consistently. Coaches will want to know if you have: Bat path? Bat control? Adjustability to your swing to hit pitches in different locations within the strike zone? Mechanics that suggest consistent contact?
We’ve covered how power is generated mechanically [stretch or hip/shoulder separation] and how its relationship to size/strength impacts a players metrics. But an efficient bat path is what makes power/metrics consistently usable at the D1 level.
Slot & Sync for Bat Path
Path comes down to what happens during the heel exchange [front heel plant, back heel lift].
If the body, hands and barrel are in good positions at launch, the bat should fire in a direct path.
- hands across the chest – barrel gets in the hitting zone early and stays there through contact.
- if out of position, hands tend to work down and/or away from the body & the barrel quickly disconnects, dumps away from the body, dips below then drags through the hitting zone.
<<D1 Bat Path? Find out for $7>>
To see an exact, easy to follow checklist for proper bat path, check out our D1 Hitting Eval eBook. You’ll quickly learn exactly how to evaluate your swing and see how it impacts your metrics and ability to apply your bat speed. This guide will give you the 2 Key Swing Checkpoints every coach looks for — with easy to follow checklists that remove the guesswork. Plus there’s D1 vs Non-D1 comparisons — what D1 hitters do & look like. Real visuals, not theory.