Player Information:
Name: Harry
Throws: R
Bats: R
Age: 16
Height: 6
Weight: 136lbs
Years Playing: 1
Level of Play (History): High School
Hitting Mechanics Evaluation
Mechanic Category
Component
Fundamentals
Head Position
Stride and Timing of front foot
Balanced at front foot strike
Load and separation
Hip Drive: back knee to front heel
Front leg - Locked or Bent
Hand Position
Posture (Leaning in towards ball)
Staying centered thru swing
Front side open or closed
Swing mechanics
Bat path
Keep hands inside ball
Palm up / palm down
Bat extension thru baseball
How long is Barrel in zone
Plate coverage
Rating
Coach’s Notes
2
Head pulls significantly off the ball before and during contact.
3
Starts from a narrow, upright stance; could create a more athletic base.
2
Large leg kick leads to inconsistent timing; front foot lands open.
2
Lands in an unstable, open position, causing balance to leak forward.
2
Front leg is soft and bent at contact; does not brace firmly.
2
Disconnected, upper-body dominant swing sequence.
2
Path is long and casting; barrel drops below hands early.
2
Appears to roll wrists over prematurely through contact.
2
Minimal extension as arms are pulling across the body at contact.
1
Head is looking toward the pull side, not at the point of contact.
2
Struggles to cover the outer third of the plate due to early opening.
Stance - Open/Closed, Athletic
Head at contact
Advanced
Back shoulder dropping to much
Minimal separation between hips and shoulders; limited hand load.
2
Hips spin rotationally rather than driving forward, losing power.
2
Hands start in a decent position but lack a dynamic load.
3
Maintains an overly upright posture throughout the swing.
3
Center of gravity drifts forward then spins out.
2
Front shoulder and hip fly open prematurely, leaking energy.
1
Hands push away from the body, leading to poor contact on inside pitches.
2
Back shoulder dip is present but is a symptom of other issues.
3
The casting path causes the barrel to have a short time in the hitting zone.
2
Summary, Scoring & Recommendations
Overall Summary
Strengths: Displays raw athleticism and intent in the swing. The use of a leg kick shows an attempt at creating rhythm and timing, which can be refined into a more efficient lower-half engine.
Areas for Improvement: The swing sequence is disconnected, leading to an upper-body dominant motion. Critical areas for focus are keeping the front side closed longer, developing proper load and separation, and maintaining head/posture discipline through contact to create a more efficient bat path.
Current Mechanics Rating: 20: Highschool level mecahnics
Projected Level of Play: 25: Juco Level
Performance Scores (Based on Rubric)
Recommended Drills
Drill #1: Fence Drill (or Net Drill) Focus: To correct a 'long' or 'casting' hand path and teach the hitter to keep their hands inside the baseball. Execution: Stand facing a chain-link fence or net, about a bat's length away. Take dry swings without hitting the fence. If the bat hits the fence, it indicates the hands are casting away from the body. Focus on turning the barrel behind you and bringing the knob of the bat towards the ball first.
Drill #2: Tee Work - Head Discipline Drill Focus: To enforce keeping the head still and down on the ball through the point of contact. This directly addresses pulling the head and front side out early. Execution: Place a baseball on a tee. Place a second object (like a batting glove or another ball) on the ground just behind the tee. The hitter's objective is to execute their swing, hitting the ball, while keeping their eyes focused on the object on the ground until the swing is complete.
Drill #3: Walk-Through Drill Focus: To improve the kinetic sequence, starting momentum from the ground up and promoting better separation between the hips and torso. Execution: Start 3-4 feet behind your normal stance. Take a crossover step with your back foot, then a step forward with your front foot (like a walking motion) into your swing. This drill forces a more dynamic use of the lower half and helps sync the body's rotation.