There are (3) three basic fundamental hitting stances in baseball, the open, the closed, and the square stance. Hitters choose their batting stances for different reasons. Many youth baseball hitters choose their favorite MLB player's batting stance to use. Not a good idea in many cases because some MLB players have extreme batting stances which were developed over many years. Extreme batting stances can make for some extreme adjustments. MLB players have the time to work on making the necessary adjustments while youth players are just not afforded with that kind of time.
When I am giving private hitting lessons, students are taught to step straight ahead towards the pitcher (square). If the batting stance is extremely open or extremely closed, it can be very difficult to get to square (stepping straight towards the pitcher).
What is an "open" batting stance in baseball?
When a hitter steps into the batter's box and the back foot is closer to home plate than the front foot, the batting stance is considered open. The baseball world is starting to see the open stance at every level. I watch a lot of baseball, from youth league baseball to major league baseball and the open stance has gravitated into every level. I don't have a problem with some high school (not all), college or pro hitters using the open batting stance because they understand how to step from open to square (stepping straight towards the pitcher) without upsetting their timing. However, most youth baseball hitters (and coaches) don't have that same understanding.
What is a "closed" batting stance in baseball?
When the front foot is closer to home plate than the back foot, the stance is considered as closed. Some coaches instruct hitters to close their stance to stop the hitter from "stepping out" during an at-bat. If it works for the hitter, fine. The name of the game is to help hitters become sucessful at the plate,right? But remember, closing the stance to keep a hitter from "stepping out" might not work for every hitter. No, let me re-phrase that, it will not work for every hitter.
What is a "square" batting stance in baseball?
When both feet are an equal distance from home plate, the stance is considered square.
Which batting stance do I prefer for youth hitters in baseball?
I like to keep things simple and easy to understand for my students and players. I prefer to teach the square batting stance to youth hitters. I believe the square batting stance is the most fundamental hitting stance to teach youth hitters. One of the advantages of the square stance is that the hitter can step straight ahead without thinking about finishing open or closed. Not having to think about going from open to square, or closed to square gives a youth hitter one less thing to think about.
The open batting stance can promote stepping "in the bucket" for youth hitters who don't understand that they should step square (straight towards the pitcher). When they step straight ahead in the open stance, the step is really towards the short stop or third baseman for a right-handed batter. Ever wonder why so many coaches yell to the batter that they are "pulling" their head out? If a right-handed hitter steps towards the short stop or third baseman, what do you think is going to happen to his front-side? Right, it is going to go early causing the head to "pull" out.
Keep it simple and teach youth baseball hitters the square batting stance!
No comments:
Post a Comment