Baseball Hitting Secrets - Top Hand/Bottom Hand Drills

3-Time World Series Champion and Coach Joe Girardi says, "This book expertly guides the reader through the basics of coaching youth baseball. Its impact goes far beyond the game's clinical and technical requirements: it teaches adults how to be human toward children."

Join Coach Matty Maher as he gives you a crucial baseball hitting secret; Top Hand (Power) and Bottom Hand (Direction) drills. In this video, Coach Matty will break down the bat path that each individual hand takes, explaining the importance of proper mechanics to ensure the most efficient swing. Learn the importance of being "connected and tight," and find out the secret to adding more power to your swing!

[NagyMagyar]

What the god damn hell does it mean to replace the belly button with the elbow?

[Gloverelacing]

Love this drill and YOUR explanation of each hand. Now @ 48 with MS I can't show the kids what I mean, YOUR taking over now! Thanks to and by way of technology!  Since they are much smaller and not as strong yet, I have them doing this with a wiffle ball bat for now. THANKS by the bunches. Just a simple guy who can no longer play and having trouble with the teaching now. But that's where you guys come in!How do you only have 500 likes when so many have watched It's NOT YOU and if they aren't getting it, it's NOT your fault either! This is a great break down of the one handed swing both top and bottom hands.

[bentaylor]

Great video.  I agree with every word on this video.  I like the hand/elbow and elbow/belly button.

[gabe.southerland]

Thank you so much you are the reason why I got out of my hitting slump by just doing your drill every day.

[CheJohnnyBoi]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try this for my next game and see if it helps.!:)

[cardsfan]

Always keep your weight back on your back foot, and watch the ball from his hand. Basically make sure you're seeing the ball the whole way, from his hand to your bat.

[ProSwingNY]

Hey Alex,

Cardsfan62 made a GREAT point about keeping your weight back and seeing the ball the whole way, I'll take it one step further. While keeping your weight back is the key, still having a little "movement" in your stance is important. Imaging throwing a punch. What if you pulled your hand back, held it there for 2 seconds, and then came forward. Would it be powerful? Or would going back and then firing forward in one fluent motion be better? The latter would! Keep a RHYTHM!
-Coach Matty

[ramirosuarez]

where can i find a tee like the one in the video?

[dudehappy]

Hi Matt, I am 12 yrs in age and i play base ball than you for the tips i know to Explode so thannk you for all the tips:)

[jtthabeast]

Yo Matt, I'm 12 years old and I was wondering if you had any bat speed drills for us 12 year olds.

[PeteYouTube]

Hi Matt,
thanks for the video. Is the "normal" swing with both hands a combination of the the top and bottom hand swing? In particular, do I have to try to "punch" the ball when I hit with both hands?

[kingofaikido]

thanks. i can use this in aikido too.. cheers!

[ProSwingNY]

Hey Bud, what a great but TOUGH question to answer. The key to progressing in your baseball career is smart work and consistency. Being a "smart" worker goes beyond all hard work, it means constantly improving every day. Rather than 1, 000 okay swings in a cage, take 50 QUALITY swings that help you. If you can be consistent in every level you climb, you will succeed. We ALL have slumps, but it comes down to this... Baseball is 90% mental! Stay focused, stay passionate, and have fun.
-Coach Matty

[CheJohnnyBoi]

Mat how do I quit swinging early against a slow pitcher.?

[christopherkadishcreative]

What do you mean by "replace the elbow with our hand?"

[cookiemostar]

Hey Mat, I was wondering how can I stop dropping my hands before I take my swing? are there any drills that I can do in order to stop this? My coach says that I "hitch" before every swing and that slows down my rythm and also my swimg power.
Thanks!

[funkyfreshtx]

took my 8 year old kid to his weekly hitting private lesson and this is exactly what we discussed. thanks for this video. the coach described the bottom hand as replacing your left elbow with your left hand and as you keep your shoulder still and bring your hand through you rotate and at contact you should be able to see the time on your wristwatch and give a high five at the end. the top hand was explained exactly as you explained it: a gut punch motion.

[Jaythejet]

and get used to failing, baseball is the only sport where you can fail 70 percent of the time and be considered great

[Kingstar]

Every major league hitter I see gets his back elbow on his hip, forms a power 'L' as he rotates. In the video, he doesn't get his elbow to the belly button, but he promotes this bad technique called bat drag. This is one of the major reasons kids strike out or have no power when they do hit the pitched ball... bat drag... the back elbow catching up to the bat knob, then the arms dragging the bat thru. These guys are caught between linear and rotational mechanics coughing up 'old' teaching techniques that have been proven not to work. Cliche's like 'throw your hands at the ball', etc... old style little league daddy ball coaching.

[ddfamf]

Ramiro - Its a Tanner Tee - look on internet