5 Common Mistakes Hitter Make and How to Fix Them
Hitting a baseball consistently is no easy task. Even the best players can fall into bad habits that hinder their performance at the plate. At Next Level Performance in Taylors, SC, we work with players of all ages and skill levels to correct their hitting mechanics and develop a more powerful, reliable swing. In this post, we’re covering the five most common mistakes hitters make—and how you can fix them with some simple adjustments and professional coaching.
Whether you’re a young player just starting or an experienced hitter looking to refine your technique, this guide is for you.
Lunging at the Pitch
The Mistake: Many hitters try to "go get the ball" by lunging forward during their swing, losing balance and generating weak contact.
The Fix: Focus on staying back and letting the ball travel. A great drill for this is the “no stride drill,” where hitters keep their feet planted and focus on rotating their hips and upper body to drive the ball. This will help them maintain a strong base and generate more power from their lower half.
2. Overactive Front Side
The Mistake: An overactive front shoulder or front hip opening too early can pull a hitter off the ball, causing weak fly balls or groundouts.
The Fix: To stay closed longer, emphasize the "rear hip" driving through the ball. A good drill is using a resistance band around the hitter's waist, focusing on pulling the back hip toward the pitcher without letting the front side open too soon. This promotes better sequencing and more power transfer.
Ready to fine-tune your hitting? Our hitting coaches in Taylors, SC, can help you master your mechanics.
3. Poor Pitch Selection
The Mistake: Many high school hitters chase bad pitches out of the zone, either because they are overly aggressive, or they don’t trust their ability to recognize pitches.
The Fix: Improve pitch recognition by working on plate discipline through drills like "zone hitting." In this drill, the hitter focuses on only hitting specific zones (e.g., middle-away or middle-in), forcing them to lay off pitches outside their chosen area. Over time, this trains the eyes to recognize pitches earlier and helps them make better swing decisions.
4. Not Using the Lower Body
The Mistake: Many hitters make the mistake of relying solely on their upper body, not understanding that power in a baseball swing comes from the large muscles of the lower body, which generates force and then transfers it to the barrel of the bat.
The Fix: Generating a powerful swing requires solid mechanics through all phases of hitting as well as both strength and explosiveness. The definition of power is Power=Work/Time. Strength in the loading phase helps create a strong, stable base of support. Explosiveness in the unloading phase allows you to quickly and efficiently transfer energy from the lower body to the upper body and barrel of the bat.
In addition to solid mechanics, training for both strength and explosiveness is imperative to develop power in your swing. Focus on:
Strength Training (examples: squats, deadlifts)
Rotational Exercises (examples: medicine ball throws, resistance band rotations)
Plyometric Exercises (examples: box jumps, vertical jump)
5. Over-swinging for Power
The Mistake: Related to our last common mistake, many hitters mistakenly think that swinging harder will result in more power. In reality, this often leads to poor contact, decreased accuracy, and more strikeouts.
The Fix: The focus of your upper body should be on squarely contacting the ball with a controlled, compact swing. If we remember our definition of power (Power = Work/Time) the work part of power is generated primary from the lower body. But an elite swing allows for optimal power while allowing the most time for pitch recognition. Many times, this is the shortest swing possible in terms of time and distance.
Some exercises to increase your bat speed include:
Resistance band swings
Overload/underload training
Medicine Ball rotational throws
Plyometric pushups
By addressing these common mistakes, hitters can make significant improvements in their performance, maximizing their potential at the plate. Staying balanced, controlling the front side, and improving pitch recognition, compact swing and using the lower body to generate power will help elevate your game to the next level.
Ready to develop a powerful swing?
Our performance training coaches in Taylors, SC, can help you enhance strength and explosiveness.
Baseball Hitter Mistakes FAQ
How often should I practice hitting to improve?
Practicing hitting consistently is key to improvement. Ideally, aim for 3-5 sessions per week. If you’re serious about becoming a better hitter, consider working with a professional coach at least once a week to ensure you’re making the right adjustments.
What should I focus on first—power or contact?
Always focus on contact first, ensuring you have solid mechanics. Power comes from solid mechanics, timing, strength and explosiveness. You can build on solid mechanics with strength and explosiveness training.
Can younger players avoid these mistakes too?
Absolutely! Young players can benefit greatly from focusing on the fundamentals early on. Correcting these mistakes now will set them up for long-term success at the plate.
Do you offer group lessons for hitters?
Yes, we offer both private and group hitting lessons at our Taylors, SC facility. Group lessons are a great way to get instruction while also building teamwork and competitive skills.