I'm confused about the way to load my arms in hitting. I usually bring my arms straight and as far back as they will go without turning my body, and I'm usually pretty successful doing it that way. But as soon as a get in a slump for a game or two, this is one of the first things my coach fixes. he said my hands should stay right around my shoulder. I tried that today and went 0-3 with 2 groundouts and a K. Does anyone have any advice or know the proper way to load your arms?

It sounds like you may be fixing one problem with another problem. Fixing a bad launch point with dead hands.

It doesn't matter where the hands begin. It's that they get to the launch point while creating stretch against the lower body.

Bonds drops and raises his hands to his launch point. Pujols holds his hands higher. Ichiro holds his still different.

So, figure out where the launch point is, get the hands to move there while the lower body is moving forward.

Check out some of the videos on these message boards. Look at how they're different, but they accomplish a similar goal.

hornetz3B,

I don’t think there is a proper way as long as you load them (and shoulders, hips, and front knee in my opinion). Some hitters prefer to pre-load their hands/arms during their stance. As a result they don’t move them back much at all during their stride (Pujols). Others like to start with them near their back pec and take them back a good bit during their stride (Tejada). I know that’s the way I do it. This always enabled me to fluidly and effortlessly create torque (between my upper and lower body), shift my weight and maintain great balance.

It sounds like your coach is the kind of guy that after you double off the wall (your way) he’ll yell “see there”.

Good Luck,

THop

I like what Wayback is saying. Read closely, he's talking about loading the hands. No need to attempt to load the arms, load the hands. Feel the hands loading and the arms will most certainly go with them.