My Two Cents

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Oct 12, 2009
1,465
0
The baseball swing is really not an upper cut at all. It's a shallow "U". Some compare the barrel path to the "Nike Swoosh". The goal when performed correctly is to swing level to the ball. IOW, match the swing plane with the plane of the pitch. Done correctly the result should be mostly line drives. If the batter is early they will typically top the ball and hit a hard grounder with top spin. If they are a little late they will typically undercut the ball and hit a fly ball with back spin. Perfectly timed pitches are typically line drives.

This is an uppercut.

I don't know why people have such a problem with the idea that a good swing is an uppercut.

For pitches up in the strike zone, it's a shallow uppercut. For pitches down in the strike zone, or breaking balls, it's a significant uppercut.
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,401
63
Northeast Ohio
It is an uppercut. Nearly every really hard hit ball on the Model Swings link is at least a slight uppercut.
I don't know why people have such a problem with the idea that a good swing is an uppercut.
Because most seem too associate a beginners swing where they drop their hands to ball level, cast, and try to swing up as a typical uppercut. Of course that has noting in common with a good swing.
I just watched a two part training video by one of the top coaches in college softball teach hitting drills. here is what I observed...

He instructed his college player through example to swing down on the ball ("short to and long through") at a very steep direct line angle from about the ear hole stright to a belt high ball on a tee. She repeated this action in 1/2 speed to point of contact with a dry cut. She then was instructed to take a real cut. On this swing she proceeded to take the front elbow forward and slightly up. Sloted the back elbow. Dropped the barrel on plane while keeping the hands above the ball and above the barrel. Ripped a line drive with a slight uppercut. Coach said - "Nice rip". It was...it just had nothing in common with the chopping dry 1/2 speed demo cut.
 

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