Hitting begins with your hands, or more specifically your fingers. When you pick-up a baseball bat there are several key parts in mastering the how to of gripping a bat in order to be a successful hitter. It's essential that you feel comfortable and relaxed with the bat in your hands— and it begins with your fingers.

Steps

1. Pick-up the bat and hold it - it should be in your fingers, the strongest part of your hand, and not your palms.
   
   Test: Place two fingers directly in the middle of your palm and close your hand. Now pull your fingers out. You will notice they come out with relative ease. However, place those same two fingers on the four fingers of your opposite hand and pull. It is much harder for your fingers to break free.
    
2. Line up your “door-knocking knuckles.” This may feel uncomfortable at first, however with practice it will become second nature. This allows your wrists to roll properly after making contact with the baseball.
3. Keep your fingers should be very loose and relaxed. The umpire should be ale to take the bat out of your hands as you prepare for the pitcher to deliver the baseball. Watch major leaguers and you will see them wiggling their fingers while in their stance. Your fingers will naturally tighten around the bat’s handle as your proceed to swing. Remember: a tight muscle is a slow muscle. Do not choke the bat. This added tension will produce a slow bat, which means little or no power

Tips & Warnings

• If you're tense while awaiting the pitch and holding the bat in a death grip, open and close your fingers on the bat. This will relax your arm muscles.
• You may want to use batting gloves for increased comfort.
• Practice enough to develop calluses from swinging - they'll prevent sore hands.
• If you use a wooden bat, use pine tar on the bat handle - it will give you a better grip.

By Chris Fay

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