The Perfect Baseball Swing. 

2:54 Smoke shop manager jeans and tips

Thank god there’s someone out there thinking. Amazing video

Frank Thomas’ swing was a nightmare to look at. The worst way to swing… now tell him that. You’re right, you gotta feel it. My Dad played pro ball in the 50’s. He told me there is no right way to hit, but there’s certainly a wrong way. It took awhile for that to sink in.

He's prickly but... @teacherman. There's one right way around feel versus real. Look at how the greats have swung and see the commonalities. Most of what most hitting coaches teach actively holds kids back from reaching their potential.

Robinson Cno, Nelson Cruz, and Alfonso Soriano had some of the best swings ever. The way Robinson Cano created his rhythm and whip on his swing was so smooth and effortless and absolute perfection! Then the way Nelson Cruz maintained bat path on his swing made him a great hitter. Then ole Alfonso Soriano who looked like he was swinging a log at the plate and was the best at creating lift on contact and using his legs to create that lift and launch. All different swings and great hitters!

Great video! Really drives in a great message of how much our game has changed, and that adjustability is key in both hitting and pitching aspects

Great video ! Too many coaches forget that unless a youngsters fundamental swing is just totally screwed up, it doesn't matter what you tell them to do if it's uncomfortable...feeling comfortable in the box is huge ! And I think you made a great point with "Semantics"...to me, "getting on top of the ball" didn't mean swinging at the top half...my goal was always to hit the ball hard consistently and you accomplish that by A) Making sure each AB you get at least one pitch in a zone where you consistently crush the ball B) Getting barrel to ball as quickly as possible and keeping the ball "Barrelled up" thru your entire swing. Again, "getting on top of the ball doesn't mean you're "chopping down" on the ball. To me, and maybe this is just me, I always felt most comfortable "Throwing my hands" ( and the barrel ) at the pitch...and the quickest way to do that ( for me ) was throwing the bat from my back shoulder at maybe a 30 degree downward plane ( depending on pitch location ) and as my front foot hits and I "pop" my hips the swing would level out ( actually with a slight upswing ) naturally ! That's what felt most comfortable to me. BUT...I was weird. I switch hit and unlike most switch hitters I had totally different stances, set - ups and timing mechanisms between Lefty and Righty. I was mostly a pull hitter, with a lot more power Lefty, I struck out more Lefty ( but my swing looked prettier doing it than Righty, LOL ) Righty, I was more of a line drive hitter with gap power that hit to all fields and didn't strike out much. I never tried to figure out why I was so different Righty vs Lefty...as I said, I just did what felt comfortable. I guess if I had to sum it up quickly...Righty, I looked like a Charley Lau disciple, Lefty, I looked like a Ted Williams "Science of Hitting" student. But again great video ! I could talk hitting for HOURS !

That’s great insight and I believe it’s so true. There’s no one way to hit and no one aspect that every hitter does the same. Different loads, different let kicks or no let kick, different timing mechanisms. There are what I call and you kind of covered secondary tools that help you be a better hitter, keeping hips closer longer on outside pitches, getting to front foot on high pitches, keeping you barrel exposed for a long time through the zone. I feel Edgar Martinez was revolutionary in his approach to hitting if you watch him. Can hit an inside pitch the other way and never had his front side glare open if you watch him. Hitting against front foot and never fully opening hips to keep hands back and let them work

This….this was unbelievable!! Honestly, this was probably the BEST video I’ve seen explaining the ART of swinging a baseball bat! Absolutely BRILLIANT. Well done Mark!!

Griffey Jr swing was the sweetest best swing ever in the MLB.

This is a video I happen to rarely see, and I really agree. I had little understanding to how adjustments and screw with a hitters groove. I admit to the fact that I was taught was steps that essentially was one side, instead of looking into the big picture. There were adjustments that did not make any sense since my body, strength, reaction time, and body coordination work to making contact. There are coaches out there who mostly give us feedback and show us the feel part and expect the batters to adjust to that feel, instead of looking into the real part of how the batter swings. It didn't come to mind how swinging can become an art, I suspected it as a science/physical/mental kind of thing. Giving those steps are lethal because those steps given can contradict within the performance to results. This video is a great tip to those wanting to coach, players who want to adjust, and to give an understanding. I'll keep an open mind as the hitters developing have their preferences, abilities, and grooves that can contradict of what I say (I'm no coach, but plan on being a hitting coach to better give the tools necessary for success)

Well said. Thank you for posting a thoughtful rumination on hitting. I’m taking away find my own swing that works using batting principles and a swing that works for ME. How refreshing.

Glad I stumbled upon this video, great breakdown and love for the game

This is one of the best baseball videos on RU-vid ever! I 100 percent agree.

This is a greatly constructed video. Nice work

This is so true about the UP in the zone! My son's longest hits has been high fast ball. Difficult to hit high in the zone but that when you the perfect mechanic (swing)

This is a good point. Everything is relative, when it comes to feel.

The best hitting video that I saw, and great explanations.

I also don’t comment much but man you nailed this. One of the best hitting videos I’ve seen. Thank you!

I agree with your conclusion that it’s important for hitters to be able to handle pitches at different heights. Having said that, there are a number of coaches on YT that stress matching the plane of the pitch. That plane does vary but it is always slightly up. The most notable are Matt Antonelli, Baseball Doctor, and Ultimate Baseball training. They even have some great drills for working on swing plane that are worth checking out. Also, as noted above, it’s funny to me that Griffey was so emphatic about getting on top of the ball when he is clearly swinging up.

Mark, I don't usually comment on RU-vid videos. I usually observe what people are teaching and cringe. As someone who's been in the game in different ways for a number of years, you hit the nail on the head with this video. I've been saying privately for years a lot of what you have in this video. Good stuff, and you've got a follower here and on Twitter, now.

I've watched only this one video and you have earned my sub. Always be. A student of the game. I hope you can help educate me and my son in the future.

Excellent video. I think many people who teach their methods or are vocal spokespeople for their preferred school of thought forget (or leave out) that hitting is an art. There are wrong ways to hit, but there isn't one correct way to hit and I think that's one of the beauties of the sport.

This is a fantastic video very well made thank you so much

This video is honestly great

Great video I agree with this entirely!

GREAT video, well done sir.

This is why I like looking at swings from the 50's and early 60's. They had a more expanded and higher strike zone to worry about so they had to have more adjustability. That era was also about the long ball but was more balanced that it is now with more concern with strikeouts and a emphasis on getting on base in front of the guys who can smash.

Great video, load timing is step 1 of figuring out the puzzle..

Great video Very well articulated

Very interesting point about the launch angle of swings. Never thought of it as creating a hole in my swing but rather improving my launch angle and how far I can drive the ball. But I agree that we are doing kids a disservice by not teaching them to have a balanced swing where you can hit the ball to all parts of the field rather than look to load up on the home run ball. Seems hitters today do not develop 2 strike approaches and swings as much as the old days. We need to bring these aspects of developing a balanced swing back.

Thank you for this video

hitting is an art, it's different for everybody because everyone is built different. you have to find the approsch that works best for you based on your attributes while practicing good fundamentals.

Possibly my favorite video on internet

One swing that is adjustable to all pitch locations is the key. The high hard fastball has always been the go to strikeout pitch for power pitchers as long as the game has been played. It's always gotten guys to swing under. It's so tempting and at high velocities impossible to lay off of.

Nice vid! Love your training app

This was fun to watch. Contact hitting unfortunately is all but gone from the game at this point since launch angle has taken over. Pitchers have adjusted, high heat, pitches in on the hands, etc. Keeping batters from getting that extension they want to really launch the ball. I do think batters now need to take a look back and see what they can improve on by watching people like prime Ken Griffey Jr, Albert Pujols and especially someone like prime Edgar Martinez. They don't need to take everything from them, but looking at those and incorporating what they do can really help batters of today shore up weaknesses.

This coulda been a 5sec short form video. Video of Griffey hitting a homerun 😂😂 Still really enjoyed the video. I enjoy the in depth breakdowns!

Good video, I don't necessarily see everything exactly in the same way as him, but I know he's got a really good point.

semantics of words is 1000!!

Home in the hitting dept. High on common sense and supported by metrics. I hope the young ones pick up on this.

Most honest video I've seen!

Your video has great talking points that, cover hitting tips. They don't say wrong or right they, just bring up needed questions about, hitting tips.

This is the SECRET of hitting! I teach this and the only people who understand me are the great ones… I was blessed to play with many of GREAT hitting players… I kept accurate notes.

U smart, I also c what u c. Thx student of th game! For what I didn't put together! Got my I and ear on u baseball mind.

I totally agree encouraging players to be complete hitters and hitting all fields is the most important skill. With the shift, if you cannot hit around it you're not going to play much.

Great video!!!!

The high heat up and in is how Verlander and Cole both had over 300ks back in 2019. Analytics helped them to find a weakness in the launch angle philosophy

I think a big reason why strikeouts and popups have dramatically increased is due to the drastically improved pitch quality. I'm not saying pitchers are better now, but what I am saying is that the individual quality of pitches in any given AB is greatly increased due to movement and velocity. The ball is simply harder to hit. And now with such emphasis being placed on OPS vs contact and batting average, it stands to reason that more swings are harder and are done with the intent of hitting the ball harder and farther. When we combine these things I think that's a big reason why the game looks so different now vs the way it did 40 or 50 years ago.

My two cents. Definitely starting to see more high school pitchers throwing up in the zone. This was not the case even 3-4 years ago. They always threw down and away.....so it was natural progression in hitting. So hitting will continue to evolve.

Amazing video!

Great video.

This is true for a lot of sports. Sometimes the people that explain it the worst were the best to do it. I’ve heard players describe mechanics that they don’t even do- but they think they do.

Really nice job! I'm a 9th grader in 14u ball with a dream of making it to the bigs some day, so this really helps! (I'm a bat left Throw left First Baseman if u care)

Great video

as a hitting coach and former mlb'er i know says, "they're all kind of right"... my add collapsing early is always bad, you don't collapse you turn first and tilt to the ball, your bat will plane, don't force it to plane.

Agree, what's the point of never practicing to hit across the entire strike zone. Williams said that he swings on good pitches that fall in his preferred zone. That works with a pitcher that puts a ball into that zone for one reason or another. Watched a clip of Shohei Ohtani hitting a pitched that ended at about his shoulder height, so I would say the survivors are already working on this to the point where they are comfortable hitting above the strike zone.

A huge part of hitting is being comfortable. I mimicked my swing after Will Clark at first and it evolved in to something unique to me. I wasn't a major leaguer but a was a well above average hitter in high school and college.

Loved watching Tony Gwynn hit.

My kid don’t hit the on top , but he feels like he do it , and he is doing great. So I keep telling him stay on top of the ball 😅

Many think the best all do the same thing but hitting is truly what works for you. Swing down? Ok. Get on plane? Ok.

I hit quite a few humeruns per AB. But I struck out a lot. And I struggled with high heat. Especially high and inside. I'd be willing to bet that you know exactly what my swing mechanics look like based on that info.

Jr. had a beautiful swing.

When computers instead of umpires were used to call balls and strikes during a testing run in the minors recently, the pitchers were happy because the computer was finally calling the very high strike. These would be strikes at the very top of the zone that umps traditionally have not called strikes, even though they ARE in the strike zone. These strikes are the hardest pitches to hit. A power hitter has to work very hard to get a good launch angle on it. The hitters that would do best with this strike are the finesse hitters/ contact hitters. So if computers eventually do end up being the home plate ump, you'll probably see yet another change in batting swing trends.

On point

Hey, I think your on to something with saying feel vs real, try checking out Jaime Cevallos and his philosophy on the swing, it is not conventional at all, and he looks at only the best hitters such as Ken griffey jr and Babe Ruth because they are the best examples

I grew up a Ken Griffey Jr mark as a kid, had his shoes, had his jersey, had his cleats. I modeled my entire game after him. I didn’t have the power like him as a kid but I could hit for average and if you left one hanging because I copied his swing I could send a ball flying out of the park on occasion. The Kid.

Who to take hitting advice from: Griffey or Josh Donaldson.... Gosh, I just can't decide!

basically begin your swing with a gather and doesnt matter what happens after that, if you contact the ball and use your hips to thrust the bat youll be a amazing hitter.

I can't tell you why but Griffey's swing is something that can only be had from the left side of the plate.

I mean honestly would the same swing work for vladimir guerrero jr and elly della cruz? With their body types and height, the swing will have a different outcome even if they try to swing with the exact same motion, also there's a phsycological aspect to it, does it feel comfortable to swing like that

There are many sweet swings.

The feel part is staying connected. What to person feels keeping connected.

Will Clark always had the smoothest swing to me. Similar swing and launch angle as Griffey Jr.

All right: what Miles Davis is that in the opening part?

Barry Bonds swing and philosophy is the best

High velo fastballs up in the zone have always been tough to hit. Pitchers average 94 mph now.

Show legends speaking about hitting not regulars lol, Bonds has a nice take on how he hits

Griffey, Bonds, Palmeiro, Ventura. Best swings I remember

the teacherman guy teaches the exact same concept you described, how far you lean over depends on the vertical location of the pitch… the higher the pitch, the more straight up and down you would be. he says the exact same thing.

What's the name of the song at the start?

Best player ever imo. Griffey Jr

Swingman! Prettiest swing in league history

Top of the ball you can control it, less likely to get extra bases though. Coaches want average. Looks better on resume.

I think there's a reason Pujols will be one of the last to hit 700 in a while. On top of the ball able to hit high and low.

I tell all my hitters just to swing like Griffey

Tbere is basic mechanics when comes to hitting the rest is all feel

Griffey jr and Manny ramirez best swings ever in mlb

Robinson Cano had a smooth swing also

The hands collapsing is what gets me. Kids will develop worse if they try to have launch angle for every hit.

I always thought Will Clark had a pretty sweet swing.

Will Clark

Was Barry Bonds in this video?

My son's 10 years old and his exit velocity is in the 70s. And he hits 300 foot bombs. Hard. to believe for a 10-year-old? But is batting coaches always talking about his velocity? That's all he talks about.

Naked Gun clip makes my Day 😂❤

Ohtani's swing is the best ever

Strikeouts have gone up, but so has runs per game. Pitching has gotten harder to hit over the last 2 decades. Batters adjusted to be better sluggers when they do make contact to compensate. More strikeouts, sure, but better to get the double/rbi or homerun on the next AB than to hit singles and get stranded on first or second because judy can't get his mis hit off a modern splitter past today's great defenders.

Teddy baseball and Griffey Jr.

Best swing was BONDS. And Gwynn, Griffey

Why everyone sleep on sotos swing