Hitting a homerun in baseball is as important as throwing a 100 mph fastball, right? To be able to hit a homerun though, you will need more than just the proper swing technique; you also need power.
Powerful swings begin from the lower body and continue through your core until it finishes at the upper body swing motion that comes in contact with the ball. All of these happen in almost a blink of an eye simultaneously while locating the path of the ball.
Do you want to have a powerful swing? Here are some tips on how to get it.
Power Pack
You can buy the bat from M^Powered Baseball or other baseball shop but you should know the function. To use this drill you will have to rely on a heavier bat, a regular bat, and a lighter bat.
You will be using these in sets with 5 repetitions until you gradually build enough strength to effectively do 10 repetitions per set.
Your partner uses a soft toss to get you the ball as you try to make a clean hit using the heavier bat. If you do not have a heavier bat, put a weight plate on a regular bat. Try to swing as hard as you possibly can with the same acceleration as you would use a regular bat.
Shift to the lighter bat and repeat the process with the same type of acceleration that will carry the bat through the ball. Move on to the regular bat after this and see if you can transfer the same feeling of acceleration through the ball when you used the heavier and lighter bats.
Self-Serve Power
This is a very simple drill that you can do on your own. Just toss the ball to yourself either from the back or the front, whichever works better for you. This drill focuses on both power and bat speed. Do not be so concerned about the mechanics of your swing at this point.
Make sure when you do this drill is to keep in mind that you are responsible for generating all the power. When you toss the ball swing as hard and fast as you can as though you are trying to hit the baseball over the centerfield fence. Increase the number of repetitions as you become more comfortable with the drill.
Walking Soft Toss
Similar to the Self-Serve Power drill, but this time you need a partner to toss the ball to you. You have to walk to the plate, load up, and swing as fast as you possibly can. You have to swing harder than you normally do by adding a hop before the hit. This will give you more arm speed and power for the hit.
To time the drill, the hitter takes a step, the ball is tossed, and the hitter hops to the plate in response to the toss and attempts to hit the ball with as much power as possible.
Try to do this from a ready position at the plate. You should be able to feel the difference as you try to make a hit off the tossed ball.
General Exercises
These drills work best when they are supported by exercises that can help you generate power. In terms of skillful swings, you need to focus on quick, strong hips and wrists. What exercises help develop stronger hips? You can try deadlift, squat, or other exercises that compound lower body barbell lifts.
Strengthening your wrists can be done with exercises like wrist curls, sledgehammer rotations, and rice digs. These strengthen your wrists, elbows, and shoulders at the same time.
Train using these drills and exercises and notice the improvement in the power of your swings.
Powerful swings begin from the lower body and continue through your core until it finishes at the upper body swing motion that comes in contact with the ball. All of these happen in almost a blink of an eye simultaneously while locating the path of the ball.
Do you want to have a powerful swing? Here are some tips on how to get it.
Power Pack
You can buy the bat from M^Powered Baseball or other baseball shop but you should know the function. To use this drill you will have to rely on a heavier bat, a regular bat, and a lighter bat.
You will be using these in sets with 5 repetitions until you gradually build enough strength to effectively do 10 repetitions per set.
Your partner uses a soft toss to get you the ball as you try to make a clean hit using the heavier bat. If you do not have a heavier bat, put a weight plate on a regular bat. Try to swing as hard as you possibly can with the same acceleration as you would use a regular bat.
Shift to the lighter bat and repeat the process with the same type of acceleration that will carry the bat through the ball. Move on to the regular bat after this and see if you can transfer the same feeling of acceleration through the ball when you used the heavier and lighter bats.
Self-Serve Power
This is a very simple drill that you can do on your own. Just toss the ball to yourself either from the back or the front, whichever works better for you. This drill focuses on both power and bat speed. Do not be so concerned about the mechanics of your swing at this point.
Make sure when you do this drill is to keep in mind that you are responsible for generating all the power. When you toss the ball swing as hard and fast as you can as though you are trying to hit the baseball over the centerfield fence. Increase the number of repetitions as you become more comfortable with the drill.
Walking Soft Toss
Similar to the Self-Serve Power drill, but this time you need a partner to toss the ball to you. You have to walk to the plate, load up, and swing as fast as you possibly can. You have to swing harder than you normally do by adding a hop before the hit. This will give you more arm speed and power for the hit.
To time the drill, the hitter takes a step, the ball is tossed, and the hitter hops to the plate in response to the toss and attempts to hit the ball with as much power as possible.
Try to do this from a ready position at the plate. You should be able to feel the difference as you try to make a hit off the tossed ball.
General Exercises
These drills work best when they are supported by exercises that can help you generate power. In terms of skillful swings, you need to focus on quick, strong hips and wrists. What exercises help develop stronger hips? You can try deadlift, squat, or other exercises that compound lower body barbell lifts.
Strengthening your wrists can be done with exercises like wrist curls, sledgehammer rotations, and rice digs. These strengthen your wrists, elbows, and shoulders at the same time.
Train using these drills and exercises and notice the improvement in the power of your swings.
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