When teaching someone to hit, how many of you tell them to keep their back elbow up?

Question

Just wondering, I hear people saying that all the time. But when I look for hitting tips, most of the resourses say the elbows should be down and level with each other.

Answer 1

The elbows should be down...little kids are taught WRONG all over America.

Of course you can get away with learning how to swing with it up but the more effective way is to start with it down. Down is seen as better because to swing and drive through a ball, that elbow will go through the plane that it would have if it was down. With it up, most tend to uppercut because of the muscles become tense in the up position.

If you watch MLB players swing, the high average hitters usually start and keep their elbows down and have quick hands to the ball(Mauer, Twins). Players that start with the back elbow up are usually homerun hitters (Ortiz, Red Sox). If you've ever watch Griffey's or Bonds' or Sheeffield's (or someone else who holds their back elbow up a little or a lot) swing, they actually get their elbows in more of a down position when they start their swings.

The conclusion, is you're adding wasted motion with your elbow up. Plus you make your backside stiff, usually causing an uppercut swing. The key really is elbows below your hands at the beginning of the swing. I could care less where you start it but when your elbow is above your hands, you get a see-saw type motion causing an uppercut.

Answer 2

Actually it depends on the hitter or the teacher. Some hit better elbow up. Some don't. My 10 yr old son hits elbow down and hits the ball rather well. He does not "loop" at the ball or swings up like the first answer suggests. He hits solid line drive hits. It all just depends on what feels comfortable to you.

Answer 3

It's not about the elbows, it's all about the hands. By teaching kids to keep their back elbow up it naturally raises the position of the hands. I coach 13-15 year olds and the worst hitters coming up are the ones who have their hands low, it forces them to have a "hitch" when swinging.

I don't preach elbows, but I do hands. Watch EVERY major league hitter, hands are up just before they swing, some of them "load" while the pitcher's in his motion but the result at the start of the swing is always hands up.

Answer 4

It depends on what kind of batter you are. Power hitters keep the back elbow up to get that 'looping up' effect on the ball. Line drive hitters keep their elbows level to get a swing that's relatively even throughout the follow through.

Teaching a beginning hitter, I would go with the level elbows method. They will get a more consistent swing that way.

--Edit--

To add on to that, GPC is right about the hands. Proper positioning of your hands is more important to a consistent swing than your elbows.

Answer 5

I always learned to keep my back elbow up, and the worst slump I ever had was when I started dropping it, didn't realize it, and my coach was too useless to notice. As soon as a friend pointed it out, all was well again.

Dropping the back elbow tends to make you "loop" at the ball and swing up, rather than coming down across the plate.

Answer 6

I have always heard the same thing but ive been playin ball all my life and when i first started out they all told me to keep my elbows down but this last year i playedmy coach told me to keep them up and it helped alot because i hit a grandslam but alot of people on my team keeps thirs down so i guess it really dont matter as long aas you hit the ball!! lol but make sure its conforitable because then you want enjoy the game at all but its mainly how your waist twists and how you step out

Answer 7

You have to keep your elbow up, period. If you do not keep your elbow up, one of three things can happen. First, when you keep your elbow up, you force yourself to keep your bat level through the hitting zone, which you need to do to get quality hits. Second, if you keep your elbow up, you force your bat to enter the "power slot", a slot that passes through the middle of the hitter's head, which helps create power. If your bat is in the power slot, you have successfully loaded your swing. Third, if you keep your elbow up, you will force a short, compact swing, which is good for two reasons. It makes your swing quicker(which means more power) and it makes your swing like a whip(also creates more power). Keep your back elbow up, keep the bat in your fingers, not in your palms, use your hips, and shift your momentum correctly and you will have one dominating swing.

Answer 8

You should bat with your elbow DOWN , not up. This is a commen mistake. Kids should be taught to keep their elbow down. This will result in a more level swing.

Answer 9

head down, shoulders down, elbow up, knees bent, leaning on back leg, hands together on bat, eye on the ball.

Answer 10

it keeps the hiter from dipping their shouder and hitting pop ups