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The first thing I check for when I get a new lesson is the proper lower body sequence. Great hitters get ready to hit by executing these moves on every pitch. Even when they don’t swing, they use the first 2 to get ready to hit—which gets their body ready to fire on command. This keeps them fluid, athletic and ready to react to the pitch. These lower half moves are "must-dos" and they anchor the swing with respect to fluidity, consistency (bat path) and power potential.

When these 3 moves aren’t executed or there is a large pause between them—the natural rhythm and fluidity leaves the swing. The body has to start and stop rapidly and the swing becomes robotic, forced, and full of tension. Hitters may accomplish these in their own stylistic ways so I don’t get too wrapped up in the minutia of each hitter doing it my way.

Even so, they all do them to some extent. Learn these 3 moves to unleash your potential and gain a repetitive, powerful, and consistent swing:

1- Create energy with a move against the back side with back hip coil. This is usually accomplished with a front knee ‘tuck’ which varies in size from a small one to a good sized leg kick as in the picture above.

2- Create (and store) more energy with a stride forward that includes a landing on the front toe (with some weight) against the front side while the hands move back by (or slightly behind) the back shoulder. This causes stretch (‘Separation’) in the big muscles and primes them for firing when the decision to swing is made.

3- Release energy with the pivot open of the hips (weight transfer). When the decision to swing is made, the hips explode open. It’s important to remember that this step is dependent on executing the first 2 steps. If you don’t move back and step to hit, this will cause the hips to jerk open too violently and pull away from the zone—instead of firing right through the pitcher. This kills the power potential of the swing and the ability to keep the barrel long in the hitting zone.