Developing a good fundamental hitting swing in baseball begins with a good, strong batting stance. And when we talk about the baseball batting stance, we must start with the feet. Most parents and youth league baseball coaches overlook the importance of the placement of the feet in the hitting stance.
As a hitting instructor, I emphasize to each new student the importance of the feet in the batting stance. When taking your stance in the batter's box, never place your feet less than shoulder-width apart. Balance will be the first thing to leave when your feet are too close together. A good fundamental hitting swing cannot be achieved without good balance.
The back foot is also extremely important. Most youth league hitters will place the back foot with the toe pointing towards the catcher at about a 45 degree angle. This is done because it feels more natural to the hitter. In that position, hip rotation will be restricted. It is no surprise to see young baseball hitters finishing their swings with the back foot still on the ground. This is commonly seen in youth league games. To promote a good hip turn, the toe of the back foot should be pointing straight ahead (parallel to the back line of the batter's box).
As a hitting instructor, I emphasize to each new student the importance of the feet in the batting stance. When taking your stance in the batter's box, never place your feet less than shoulder-width apart. Balance will be the first thing to leave when your feet are too close together. A good fundamental hitting swing cannot be achieved without good balance.
The back foot is also extremely important. Most youth league hitters will place the back foot with the toe pointing towards the catcher at about a 45 degree angle. This is done because it feels more natural to the hitter. In that position, hip rotation will be restricted. It is no surprise to see young baseball hitters finishing their swings with the back foot still on the ground. This is commonly seen in youth league games. To promote a good hip turn, the toe of the back foot should be pointing straight ahead (parallel to the back line of the batter's box).
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