Keeping a light grip on the bat is one of the most important fundamentals for all hitters. This grip will allow for the wrists to properly roll on contact and help generate maximum power.
The best way to achieve this is by lining up the knuckles on each hand, similar to how you would knock on a door. This may feel uncomfortable at first but will become second nature with practice.
1. Keeping Your Back Elbow Down
It’s often taught that you should keep your back elbow down while you grip the bat and swing. While it does help some hitters, many others find that it actually hurts their bat speed. This is because when the elbow is up, it forces the barrel of the bat to rise above the hands, which limits your wrist action and can lead to a shorter, less powerful swing.
You need to have strong wrists and good control of the bat to hit hard. The way to achieve this is by keeping your grip light and keeping the bat at your fingertips. A grip that is too tight will limit your power, and a grip that is too loose will result in the bat flying through the zone and missing the baseball.
When you take the grip lightly, your fingers are all lined up, and your second knuckles in both your index finger and your bottom three fingers should be pointing down the bat handle. This is known as the box grip. This is the grip that most Major League hitters use, and it produces some of the best results for batting average, power, and time to contact.
The box grip is also the most comfortable for hitters to use. While a few players will prefer to hang their pinky off the knob and choke up on the bat, the majority of hitters have no problem using the normal grip. While this is not the only grip that produces good results, it is one of the most common and most natural to use for a young hitter. It is important for a young hitter to be comfortable with the grip they are using because that will help them stay relaxed, which is essential for the best swings.
2. Keeping Your Middle Knuckles Lined Up
Whether you use the Box Grip, Choke-up grip, or Pinky-off grip, it is important to keep your middle knuckles lined up. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it is the best way to ensure your hands work together rather than against each other. If you align the knuckles like you would knock on a door, it allows you to be able to roll your top hand early and let the bat come through with more speed and power.
Many hitters have trouble letting the baseball bat through to their hands because they don’t align the knuckles properly. This can cause the wrist to over-rotate and not be able to snap back and let the bat through to contact. The simplest way to fix this is to keep your middle knuckles lining up when you grab the bat.
This is something that a lot of batting coaches and hitting instructors preach, and it should be one of the first things you do when you hold a bat. You can test this by taking the bat in your bottom hand and wrapping the index finger around the handle. Keep the fingers of your bottom hand a little separate from each other, but all four fingers should be wrapped around the handle, and the knuckles should be pointing up the bat’s barrel.
This is a great grip for hitters who want to maximize bat speed but not sacrifice accuracy. It also allows hitters to hit the ball with more power because it creates a bigger angle of attack at impact, which is perfect for hitters who need to drive the ball in the air. The only downside to this grip is that it can be difficult for hitters to control the barrel and might not allow them to get as much extension as other grips.
3. Keeping Your Big Knuckles Lined Up
As a hitter, the grip of the bat should be so that your big knuckles are lined up (like the knuckles you use to knock on a door). This is known as the “door-knocking” grip, one of the most common grips hitters use. Keeping your door-knocking knuckles aligned will make it easier for you to swing the bat with more power.
If your knuckles are not lined up, you’re likely using too much pressure, or your grip is too loose. This can cause you to roll over your top hand too early in the swing and inhibit your wrists from producing maximum barrel speed. Similarly, a too loose grip can lead to the slipping of the bat.
Whether you choose to use a pinky-off or a normal grip, the key is to find one that feels comfortable for you. If you find that a pinky-off grip gives you better control of the swing, then that’s the one you should stick with. However, if you find that a normal grip is more effective in generating power, then that’s the one you should use.
To better understand how different grips can impact your swing, we had thirty college and professional hitters take ten swings with a normal grip, a split grip, a choke grip, and a pinky-off grip. We then measured the swings for their distance, flight path, and rotational acceleration. We found that a normal grip yielded the best distance and rotational acceleration results. However, a pinky-off or choke grip results in a higher attack angle, which can limit the amount of power you can generate.
4. Keeping Your Bottom Elbow Up
While it may seem counterintuitive, it turns out that you need to be able to keep your bottom elbow up to maximize the power of your swing. When your bottom elbow is too high, it’s hard to maintain the proper batting stance, which can lead to lower contact points and slower swing speeds.
In addition, keeping your bottom elbow up allows you to get more leverage on the bat. This can help you hit the ball harder and farther because you’ll be able to apply more force against the ball at impact.
Another thing to consider is the way your fingers are positioned in your baseball grip. Ideally, you should have a grip that’s loose enough that your hands can move freely but tight enough to prevent them from slipping off the bat. It’s also important to remember that your top hand will naturally tighten up as it comes closer to the point of contact. Having your grip a little loose at the beginning of your swing will allow this natural tightening to take place without you having to think about it.
As for the specifics of the baseball batting grip, plenty of options are available. However, a normal grip has been shown to provide the most power in tests. It’s likely because this grip has the longest lever, making accelerating the bat easier. Interestingly, a split grip has also been shown to have good power results as well, though it’s probably not something you want to try unless you’re working on your top-hand weakness.
All of this may sound a little confusing, but it’s definitely worth learning because it can improve your swing and make you a better hitter overall. As you continue to practice these techniques, don’t be afraid to experiment with different grips to see what feels best for you. Eventually, you’ll find the perfect baseball batting grip that will give you the most power as you swing through the ball.
5. Keeping Your Top Elbow Down
When your top hand grips the bat, you want to be able to easily grip it. You don’t want it to be too tight, or you will lose power. If your hands are too loose, you will have trouble controlling the bat, and that can also limit your power.
The best way to find the perfect grip for you is to look at how your favorite Major League hitters hold their bats. You can watch them while watching a baseball game on television or go to a local batting cage and ask a coach for advice.
One thing that most hitters get wrong is they start out with a very heavy grip. This is because they have been taught that you need to align your knuckles, which takes a lot of pressure on the fingers. When you have a proper grip, your hands work together, and the knuckles are relaxed. Piquing the bat too tightly puts a lot of pressure on your knuckles and limits the amount of power your swing can generate.
In general, if you are going to be using a wooden bat, you will want to use a grip that is a little bit thinner than if you are using a metal bat. This is because wooden bats can sting a little when they hit the ball, so you don’t want to end up with a bruised thumb.
So, to practice the correct grip, first, grab the bat with your bottom hand and roll it loosely into your fingertips. Then, take your top hand and wrap it around the bat in a similar fashion to the bottom hand. Ensure that your index finger is distinct from the bottom three fingers and that all your knuckles are lined up on the bat’s barrel.
