If you want to give a powerful hit, the best way is to hold the baseball bat strongly. To grip a baseball bat, you must have the right grip and understand where to hold it to form a perfect angle. Taking hold of a baseball bat is not as simple as it seems while holding it because as soon as you hit the ball, it feels like it will slip out of your hands if not held correctly.
The best way to hold a baseball bat is to hold the handle in your hand strongly and put one end of the bat on the ground before your front foot. Make a slight angle where you are comfortable and can judge a ball. We have formulated this guide to help you get a better grip on the bat for hitting the ball out of the park.
How to Grip a Baseball Bat
If you are looking for hundreds of techniques online to grip a baseball bat, you have landed at the right place. This freshly brewed guide on how to grip a baseball bat will help you learn a few essential techniques required for a better hold on the game.
Step 1:
The first thing you need to learn before holding a baseball bat in your hand is to use your bottom hand. If you are a right-handed player, your bottom hand is left-hand, and you must hold the bat from it. If you are a right-handed player, it’s vice versa. The end of the bat should touch the ground and be before your front foot, and the same hand rule applies here. The reason for this rule is to give you space to make an angle.
Step 2:
Wrap your hand around the bat strongly and ensure the rest of your three fingers are free to exert the force when hitting the bat. Your knuckles should be in the direction of a bat barrel to move quickly when the ball moves. Also, make sure your batting gloves are not slippery or it will be hard for you to grip a baseball bat.
Step 3:
Another technique you need to take care of while holding a baseball bat as a beginner is to leave some distance between the bat handle and palms. Hold the handle with your fingers, which will make a perfect grip for you to hold it and hit the shot.
Step 4:
Now repeat the same process with your second hand when holding a bat with it, but the knuckles of that hand should be on the other side. Make your angle while on the pitch and bend to different angles to evaluate the right position.
Read: Best Baseball Bat for Self Defense
Step 5:
Another important thing about holding a baseball bat is to keep your grip tight when someone is set to throw a ball your way and keep your upper body relaxed. If you tighten and stiffen the body, you won’t be able to hit the ball because energy will be utilized in your upper body. The more you keep the body relaxed before hitting the ball, the more energy you can put into your shot.
Step 6:
When you are done with holding the bat through a perfect technique it’s time to make your angle. Keep your body light, grip tight, and tilt your body a bit where it’s easy for you to hit the ball and move. Holding the bat straight to the ground will add a loop to the overall swing. You should hold the bat at an angle where you can move freely, analyze the ball at the right moment, and the bat can have good contact with it.
Read: Best BBCOR Bats for Contact Hitters
How to Buy the Perfect Baseball Bat
Many players lose their game or feel uneasy as soon as they grab the bat due to the low quality of it. Playing your perfect game is not possible when baseball is not good enough. To grip a baseball bat, you should have a technique to hold it and must have the best one. Are you confused about how to buy the best baseball bat? Here is our guide just for you.
Quality
The quality of the bat should be high, or else you will buy another one due to excessive damage after playing. Before you pick any baseball from a shop, you should pay attention to its quality by getting excited from the thought of owning it. It should be able to handle the hard strike and you can check it by hitting the end of a bat to the ground. The strength does not equal what you need if it makes an empty sound.
Weight
Many players find it difficult to grip a baseball bat when it’s heavy and difficult to swing. What will you do when the ball is coming to you at a fast speed, but your bat is heavy, so you can’t go for a long shot? Don’t choose a bat that is too heavy or feels like it is made for babies. The weight must be light but feel like wood in your hand. Hold the bat for 2-3 minutes in your hand and if you are comfortable, buy it. Don’t buy if you feel something heavy has stuck in your hand and you are having difficulty moving with it.
Construction
When you visit the market to buy the best baseball bat, you will go through several qualities with different construction methods. Some are hand-made and expensive, and some are made by machines or other ways. The construction of the bat should be defined, and when you buy it for a tournament, you must know the construction type. Usually, baseball bats made by hands are solid and easy to lift. They may feel expensive in your pocket but if you are participating in a tournament, you should go for it.
Affordability
The affordability of a baseball matters a lot when you have a limited budget and there is pressure to perform at your best. Many brands sell the same thing for a high price, but you must search the market before picking the best baseball bat. You can evaluate the material, performance, and other stuff to get an actual price of the baseball bat. You can also search for the best ones in online stores at a discount.
Made For Whom
There are several baseball bats in the market made for different purposes. Some are solely for professionals, some for kids, and others for a local tournament. Even if you play for a college tournament, you need to change the bat after a few years with growing age. An extra inch in a bat can make a big difference in your performance, so you must keep changing it.
Read: Baseball Bats for 10 Year Old
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the proper grip for a baseball bat?
You can properly grip a baseball bat by putting the bottom hand palm downwards and the other hand upwards. Your hands should be parallel to the bat, which makes it easy for the bat to swing. Also, the thumb of the bottom hand prevents the bat from knocking backward while hitting the ball. Your gloves should be non-slippery to hold a bat with a strong grip.
How hard should you grip a baseball bat?
The biggest mistake you can make is to hold the bat tightly while waiting for a ball because it makes your body stiff. The stiffer your body becomes, the less force you are likely to exert in your shot. Keep your hands light and analyze the ball if you want to stay firm on the pitch. You should grip the baseball bat with a medium force and change it according to the situation.
Does wearing gloves make a difference?
It’s essential to wear gloves during baseball for a better grip. If your gloves are non-slippery and made of high-quality material, they will protect your hands from getting sweaty and keep the grip on point. By wearing comfortable and professional gloves, you can enhance the game and make a difference while on the pitch.
Why is proper bat grip important?
If your bat grip is not strong enough, you can’t make proper contact with a ball. This is why learning to grip a baseball bat is important when you don’t want to compromise on performance. The right grip will slow the bounce rate, and you can hit the right shots.
Final Thoughts
Before you start playing the game with the baseball bat, it’s essential to master the basics for a better angle. To grip a baseball bat properly, you need to pay attention to the whole body’s alignment. A strong and good grip also helps you fight against the odds when the pitch is insufficient to support a ball’s bounce.
The weak grip may surely keep you easy on the pitch, but as soon as the ball comes in contact with a bat, you can’t take the desired shot. I hope this guide must have helped you align the body with a baseball bat for better play in the future.
