4 Things You’re Doing Wrong With Your Baseball Swing

Hitting a round ball with a round bat remains one of the most difficult challenges in sports. Even the best hitters in the world fail more times than they succeed. For many hitters, they make hitting even more difficult with fundamental problems in their swing. Keep reading to understand the things you’re doing wrong with your baseball swing.

You Start With an Improper Stance

Everything in your swing relies on a solid foundation, which begins with how you set up at the plate. If your feet are too close together, you lack stability. If they are too far apart, you limit your rotational mobility.

You need an athletic, balanced position with your knees slightly bent. This creates the stability necessary to transfer energy efficiently from your legs through your torso and into the bat. A balanced stance allows you to react to different pitches without losing your center of gravity.

You Try to Crush Every Pitch

Another thing you’re doing wrong with your baseball swing is overswinging. Many hitters think that if they want to drive the ball further, they just have to swing harder. While you need strength and bat speed to hammer balls, it’s better to swing smarter, not harder, and focus on technique over power.

Instead of raw power, focus on a smooth, controlled stroke that stays on path. A controlled swing allows you to barrel up the ball more consistently. A solid contact with a relaxed swing travels much further than a mishit ball from a violent swing.

You Drop Your Back Shoulder

This mistake plagues hitters of all ages. You might think dipping your back shoulder helps you get under the ball to lift it, but it actually destroys your swing path. Dropping the back shoulder forces the bat path upward too early, leading to weak pop-ups or swinging strikes beneath the ball.

You want a level swing plane that keeps the barrel in the hitting zone for as long as possible. Focus on driving your hands directly toward the pitcher rather than dipping backward. Keeping your shoulders relatively level helps you drive through the ball rather than scooping under it.

You Cut Your Swing Short

The swing does not end when the bat meets the ball. Many players make contact and immediately decelerate, robbing the hit of its potential distance. Full extension allows the energy you generate to transfer completely into the baseball.

Think about punching through a wall rather than just hitting the surface. A complete, high finish drives the ball with maximum force and maintains control throughout the entire motion. If you find your bat stopping abruptly after contact, you lose significant power. Let the bat finish its natural arc around your body.

Fix Your Mechanics to Find Your Rhythm

Baseball is a game of adjustments. If you notice yourself popping up, striking out, or hitting weak grounders, check these areas first. A balanced stance, a controlled swing, level shoulders, and a full follow-through can transform your performance at the plate. Take some time during your next batting practice to focus on these fundamentals.