Learn to swing on plane and you will become a good hitter
The swing plane is one of THE most important pieces of hitting to understand. If you learn how to get your bat into the swing plane early and stay in the plane long through your follow through… you will be a good hitter.
First it is important to change the way we think. Long gone are the days where we chop down on the ball because that was what we thought was the quickest ways to get our bat head to the ball. Not only does swinging down create improper mechanics, it does not allow our bat head to get on the plane of the pitch that is coming in.
Match the plane of the pitch
Getting your bath path on the plane of the pitch is the name of the game. The pitcher is standing 60 feet 6 inches away on the rubber on a mound that should be elevated 10 inches off the ground. Since the pitcher is elevated and is throwing to a target that is crouched down behind the plate, no matter what pitch they throw, the ball will be coming in at a downward angle.
Since the ball is coming in at a downward angle, our swing needs to be moving at a positive angle. Not an uppercut, but a slightly positive angle anywhere around +8 to +16 degrees.
Way ahead of his time, Ted Williams was on to something when he outline the swing plane in his book, The Science of Hitting. As you can see in the picture there are two swings. On the top is a hitter that has a bath path that is on plane matching the pitch. On the bottom, is a hitter who came in too steep and their bath was in and out of the swing plane faster than Billy Hamilton stealing second base. Notice in the blue the swing plane.
What does having a good swing plane do for a good hitter?
Having a good swing plane allows hitters to have a greater chance at hitting the ball. If your swing is on plane for a longer period of time, your timing does not have to be perfect.
For example, you could be sitting dead red fastball and the pitcher throws an off speed pitch. All you have to do it keep your hands back and pull the off speed pitch, even if you were off balance and out in front.
After my playing days, I decided I wanted to focus on my academics and learn about the human body, get experience coaching, and eventually help other athletes reach their goals. I have my Bachelors of Science in Health and Exercise Science; i’m also a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and have worked in a Sports Science Role in Professional Baseball.