⚾ Baseball Technique Analysis
Professional Batting Mechanics
Proper batting technique is fundamental to success in baseball. Professional coaches focus on specific mechanical elements that can be analyzed through video review.
🏏 Stance and Setup
Foot Position
- Feet shoulder-width apart for balance
- Back foot perpendicular to home plate
- Front foot slightly closed (toes pointing toward plate)
- Weight distributed 60% on back leg, 40% on front
Hand and Bat Position
- Hands positioned above back shoulder
- Knuckles aligned (door knocking knuckles lined up)
- Bat angle at 45 degrees to ground
- Relaxed grip pressure (hold like holding a bird)
Common Stance Errors:
- Feet too close together (unstable base)
- Weight too far forward on front foot
- Hands too low or too far from body
- Grip too tight causing tension
⚡ Load and Stride
Weight Transfer
- Slight shift back onto rear leg during load
- Hands move back 2-4 inches (creating separation)
- Front shoulder stays closed
- Maintain balance throughout load phase
Stride Mechanics
- Soft stride forward (6-8 inches maximum)
- Land on ball of front foot, not heel
- Front foot lands slightly closed
- Timing: stride foot down as ball crosses plate
Common Load/Stride Errors:
- Over-striding (more than 8 inches)
- Flying open (front shoulder pulling away early)
- No load phase (starting swing from static position)
- Landing on heel instead of ball of foot
🔥 Swing Mechanics
Hip and Torso Rotation
- Hips initiate the swing (fire before hands)
- Back hip drives toward pitcher
- Torso follows hip rotation
- Maintain spine angle throughout swing
Bat Path and Contact
- Hands take shortest path to ball
- Bat enters hitting zone early and stays long
- Contact made with arms extended
- Head stays down through contact
Follow Through
- High finish with hands above front shoulder
- Complete hip and torso rotation
- Back foot comes up on toe (Charlie Chaplin position)
- Balanced finish position
Common Swing Errors:
- Upper body leading (instead of hips)
- Casting (hands moving away from body)
- Head pulling off ball at contact
- Chopping down on ball (negative attack angle)
Professional Pitching Mechanics
Effective pitching requires precise mechanical coordination. These checkpoints help identify proper form and potential areas for improvement.
🎯 Wind-Up and Balance
Starting Position
- Feet parallel on rubber, shoulder-width apart
- Weight evenly distributed
- Glove and ball at chest level
- Eyes focused on target
Leg Lift and Balance Point
- Knee lifts to belt level or higher
- Maintain balance on posting leg
- Slight forward lean toward home plate
- Hands stay together during lift
⚡ Stride and Separation
Stride Mechanics
- Stride foot lands on line toward home plate
- Stride length approximately 80-90% of height
- Land on ball of front foot
- Front leg firm at foot strike
Hand Separation
- Hands break as front foot begins descent
- Throwing hand goes down and back
- Glove hand extends toward target
- Shoulders remain level during separation
🔥 Arm Action and Release
Arm Circle and Cocking
- Full, fluid arm circle
- Elbow at or above shoulder level
- Maximum external rotation at foot strike
- Glove side pulls down and back
Release and Follow Through
- Release point out in front of body
- Wrist snap at release
- Arm follows through across body
- Finish in fielding position
Common Pitching Errors:
- Rushing (front foot landing too early)
- Flying open (glove side pulling away early)
- Short arm action (insufficient arm circle)
- Dropping elbow below shoulder level
Video Analysis Tips for Baseball
📹 Camera Angles for Batting
- Side View: Best for seeing stride, weight transfer, and swing plane
- Front View: Shows stance width, hand position, and hip rotation
- Behind View: Reveals bat path and plate coverage
- Catcher's View: Shows timing and approach angle
📹 Camera Angles for Pitching
- Side View: Shows balance point, stride length, and arm angle
- Behind Pitcher: Reveals direction and consistency
- Home Plate View: Shows release point and deception
- First Base Side: Best for analyzing arm action
⏱️ Key Timing Points
- Batting: Sync videos at ball release or contact point
- Pitching: Sync at balance point or foot strike
- Fielding: Sync at ball contact with glove
- Base Running: Sync at first step off base