Swing the Bat!
The Follow-Through
The follow-through is the continuation of the swing after you’ve hit the ball, and has two steps.
a. Extend and Point (aka the Power V). After hitting the ball, continue your swing until both arms are fully extended and pointing at the pitcher, as demonstrated by Derek Jeter below. Note that Derek’s arms are parallel to the ground, and that his head is still down looking at the point where his bat hit the ball. When fully extended, the arms form an inverted V, so this position is often called the "Power V" position.
Extension of the arms into the Power V position helps the hitter hit through the ball and keeps the sweet spot in the hitting zone and "on the ball." Failure to fully extend into the Power V position usually means the hitter will pull the sweet spot out of the hitting zone too soon, resulting in fewer hits over the course of a season.
For inside pitches, however, the hands must be pulled in front of the hitter's body before the arms can fully extend in order to get the bat head to the ball. Extension into the power V will be aimed more toward left field (right field for LH batters) than toward center field, and the extension may be less pronounced.
b. Roll and Wrap. After extending both arms into the power V position, roll your wrists over and continue to hold onto the bat with both hands until your back shoulder rotates completely around to the front and touches your chin, as modeled by Mr. Jeter again (below left). This will result in wrapping your bat back behind your head.
a. Extend and Point (aka the Power V). After hitting the ball, continue your swing until both arms are fully extended and pointing at the pitcher, as demonstrated by Derek Jeter below. Note that Derek’s arms are parallel to the ground, and that his head is still down looking at the point where his bat hit the ball. When fully extended, the arms form an inverted V, so this position is often called the "Power V" position.
Extension of the arms into the Power V position helps the hitter hit through the ball and keeps the sweet spot in the hitting zone and "on the ball." Failure to fully extend into the Power V position usually means the hitter will pull the sweet spot out of the hitting zone too soon, resulting in fewer hits over the course of a season.
For inside pitches, however, the hands must be pulled in front of the hitter's body before the arms can fully extend in order to get the bat head to the ball. Extension into the power V will be aimed more toward left field (right field for LH batters) than toward center field, and the extension may be less pronounced.
b. Roll and Wrap. After extending both arms into the power V position, roll your wrists over and continue to hold onto the bat with both hands until your back shoulder rotates completely around to the front and touches your chin, as modeled by Mr. Jeter again (below left). This will result in wrapping your bat back behind your head.
