3 Recommended Drills to Fix Dropping Your Head When Batting

Many people probably have problems with batting, such as "the ball doesn't fly as far as I want" or "I hit too many pop flies."

One of the causes of this slump could be that "the bat head is dropping." When the bat head drops, you tend to hit the ball with a single point rather than a line, which lowers your chances of hitting the sweet spot of the bat.

This article will explain the causes of a dropping bat head and the key points to keep in mind to keep the bat head up.

We will also introduce practice methods to master the correct swing trajectory, so if you are struggling with batting, please refer to this article.

[Author Information for this Blog]

Minoru Hata, Representative Director of Amazing Co., Ltd., commonly known as Minoruman.
Played for Hirakata Boys - Osaka Toin High School - Asia University - and the strong JR Tokai team.
Won the Giants Cup and served as captain during his time at Osaka Toin. Experienced winning the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
As a pioneer in baseball instruction, he boasts over 200,000 followers on YouTube and Instagram.

What does it mean for the bat head to drop in batting?

In batting, a dropping bat head refers to the bat's tip tilting towards the ground during the swing.

This can be rephrased as "the bat head is not accelerating" during the swing. In an ideal swing, the bat maintains an almost horizontal angle while making an arc. However, if the bat head drops, the correct trajectory is disrupted, making it difficult to hit the ball accurately.

Strictly speaking, due to the weight of the bat, the head will naturally drop. However, it is crucial that the bat head does not drop below a certain line (does not sag).

What causes the bat head to drop in batting?

The main reasons why the bat head drops in batting are the following two:

・Incorrect take-back

・Opening the armpit

If the take-back is incorrect, the starting position of the swing will be too high. For a right-handed batter, the right shoulder drops, and for a left-handed batter, the left shoulder drops, causing the bat head to drop.

Additionally, excessive opening of the armpit is another cause of the bat head dropping. For example, for a right-handed batter, if the left armpit opens during the swing, the elbow rises, and the bat head drops.

To improve a dropping bat head, it's important to understand what actions are causing it. Try dry swings in front of a mirror to see which condition applies to you.

Two disadvantages of dropping the bat head in batting

When the bat head drops, it can lead to "less power being transferred" and "inability to hit the ball cleanly."

Let's look at each of these in detail below.

Disadvantage 1: Less power transfer

If the bat head drops, the power generated during the swing will be less effectively transferred to the ball.

A dropping bat head means that you are hitting the ball behind the sweet spot, where power is most efficiently transferred. Also, since you are not using your wrists effectively, you won't be able to drive the ball, and you will be overpowered by the strength of the ball.

Disadvantage 2: Inability to hit the ball cleanly

When the bat head drops, it becomes difficult to hit the ball cleanly.

This is because the swing trajectory differs from your image, and the distance between the bat and your eyes becomes too far, making it difficult to hit the ball cleanly. Therefore, a swing with a dropped bat head increases the likelihood of a swing-and-a-miss or a foul ball.

Especially on outside pitches, if your bat head is dropped, you won't be able to hit it cleanly. The outside corner is the furthest strike zone from the batter, and compared to other zones, there is less risk of being hit, making it a key part of pitching strategy. To increase your chances of getting a hit, prepare to handle outside pitches.

3 recommended practice methods to prevent the bat head from dropping in batting

To prevent the bat head from dropping, it's necessary to master the correct swing trajectory. However, many people may understand the cause of a dropping bat head but not know how to improve it.

Here, we will introduce three effective practice methods to prevent the bat head from dropping. The practice methods introduced below not only prevent the bat head from dropping but also help you develop the sensation of "the bat head accelerating," so please give them a try.

Practice method 1: Relaxed Tee Batting

"Relaxed Tee Batting" is recommended as a practice method to prevent the bat head from dropping.

From a relaxed stance, swing, but as you step forward, tilt the bat head behind your body. This will naturally bring your hands up to the correct position, and then you can swing.

This practice method naturally helps you understand the correct way to use the bat and the correct top position. Since it is an easy method to implement, it is recommended to incorporate it as a warm-up before batting.

This practice method is explained in detail in the video below. If you want to know more, please watch it.

Practice Method 2: Tee batting with the bat passing by your face

Consciously hitting the tee with the bat passing by your face can help prevent the bat head from dropping.

Players whose bat head drops often don't understand where their hands are going. If there's a discrepancy between yourイメージ and the actual movement of your body and bat, mis-hits will increase.

By practicing this method, you'll develop a compact swing that wraps around your body, naturally allowing the bat head to accelerate.

This practice method is explained in detail in the video below. If you want to know more, please watch it.

Practice Method 3: [Taught by a former Japan national team player] Swing Drill

Performing the swing drill introduced by Gen Mizumoto, the principal of our baseball school's Nagoya branch, will help you acquire the correct swing trajectory.

The specific practice method is introduced in the video below.

The trick to getting the bat head to accelerate is to have it slightly laid back at the start of the swing. The bat's movement is similar to the "relaxed tee batting" introduced earlier, but please continue to practice the method that best suits your feel.

3 Key Points to Keep the Bat Head Up

By focusing on key points during the swing, you can prevent the bat head from dropping and achieve an ideal swing trajectory.

Specifically, the three points to be aware of are:

・Accelerate the bat head near home plate.

・Keep your head down during the swing.

・Imagine laying the bat down at the start of the swing.

Let's look at each of these in detail.

Key Point 1: Accelerate the bat head near home plate

Focus on accelerating the bat head near home plate.

However, if you try too hard to accelerate the bat head, you might flip your wrist, which can lead to a rolling motion of the wrist. Also, if you focus too much on keeping the bat head up, it might actually prevent it from accelerating, so try to swing in a relaxed state.

Key Point 2: Keep your head down during the swing

To keep the bat head up, try to keep your head (eyes) focused on the area around home plate during the swing.

Keep your head down until the end, and for right-handed batters, push the ball with your right hand; for left-handed batters, push with your left hand.

Key Point 3: Imagine laying the bat down at the start of the swing

It's important to imagine laying the bat down when starting your swing. By laying the bat down at the start of the swing, your hands will naturally rise to the correct position. Swinging in that state will lead to a swing where the bat head naturally accelerates.

However, you can't be completely relaxed in a real game. Try to incorporate the practice methods introduced in this article so you can do it unconsciously.

Summary

The problem of a dropping bat head in batting is a challenge many players face. Refer to the practice methods and tips introduced in this article to develop a swing where the bat head accelerates.

Amazing offers a variety of gear to help you improve your batting quickly. Among them, "PENTA5ON" is recommended for those who want to "master the sensation of the bat head accelerating." With "PENTA5ON," you can easily grasp the feeling of the bat head accelerating through the "exchange motion" between the bat head and the grip.

If you want to get an edge over your rivals, why not consider purchasing one?