How do you increase your bat speed?

Answer 1

In most cases, swing form will increase bat speed. So will using the correct bat. There is more to this than just length and weight. The bat itself can increase bat speed depending on your swing. The taper or hinge area can increase bat whip. But again, depends on you. The best way is to find a hitting coach, check your form and have him match you to a bat.

Now for the workout.....

Hitting movement starts with the 29 muscles in your core group which are Ab, Back and Pelvis and are the center of all motion and your platform for balance. Hitting power comes from elastic energy not contraction energy. The main muscle groups (the ones body builders bulk up) are contraction muscles used for strength, the flexible muscles are used for flexibility and movement - some people call these Twitch muscles. These are the muscles used for hitting a ball, throwing - any quick motion.

Do workouts that promote your core muscle group:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/core-st...


The other thing I have noticed is that younger players trying to swing faster lose their center of balance and actually end up with a slower bat speed.
One way I have found to combat this is to have the hitters take their maximum stride, step into a hard swing and mark where your front foot lands. Then move your front back about 4 inches from that spot and lift your front heel slightly so your weight is on your back foot. Your stance will now be almost completely quiet and you should focus on using almost no step toward the pitcher. This should block your upper body from diving toward the pitcher and reducing bat speed. You will be naturally pushed back into your center of gravity and your core muscles will control the power of the swing. You may be amazed at how far you can hit a ball while keeping your lower body quiet.

Answer 2

The first step is to fine tune your swing. Make sure that your swing is compact and smooth. I won't bore or insult you by going into all the details of what that entails.

Second, strengthen your core (abs and lower back). Power and speed in a swing is generated in the core, not the arms. Every hitter or hitting coach that is worth a damn will tell you that the torque and power that you can generate with your core as your swing opens up directly correlates to the power and speed of your swing.

Try using a wooden bat during batting practice. It's heavier than the aluminum you'll be using during the game, but will not change your swing the way using a larger bat would. You don't want to use a bat in practice that is a different size than the one you'll use in the game. Using a wooden bat on the tees and during soft toss will allow you to focus on your mechanics while using a heavier bat, then when you take live cuts switch back to aluminum and you'll see and feel the difference.

Finally, practice. Even at the high school level a serious hitter should be taking at least 100 cuts a day. In my playing days I took between 150 and 250 cuts at day. Don't take the tees lightly either, most kids think that they're a waste of time, but the truth is that they are the only way to really work on your mechanics (you can't focus on mechanics if you're also having to focus on a moving ball). And take each cut seriously, for every bad or lazy cut you take it takes 21 good cuts to make up for it. Take you're BP seriously and build good muscle memory.

Answer 3

Work the kinks out of your swing - make the swing as smooth as possible - the long and more looping your swing is the farther it has to travel to get to contact point - also focus on making contact in the last 6 inches of the bat - byt the very physical nature the bat end travels faster than the handle - the farther out you connect - the faster the bat is going at contact - make sure your legs and hips are providing the power too - practice, practice, practice - i used to go to the cage three or four times a week and played twice a week - the more you swing the better you will get.

Answer 4

Practice regularly with a heavier bat than the one you normally use (Like if you use a 33" aluminum bat, try practicing with a 33" wooden bat). Also, swing with batting weights on your bat before At-Bats, you will see major leaguers doing this, simply slide them off before you step up to the plate, and when you swing it will at least seem easier for you-giving you better bat speed (and power boost)

Answer 5

Light weight bat.

Answer 6

Swing a weighted bat and strengthen your forearms with exercises.

Answer 7

Lots of batting practice...working out your legs and upper boby.

Answer 8

Try taking cuts in the pool...the resistance of the water helps greatly!

Answer 9

u swing harder.