Hitting guides

Chopping down or uppercutting? How to fix a steep bat path

By the PureHits team. Last updated November 3, 2026

Which one do you have?

Your ball flight off a tee gives you a first clue, and film from the side confirms it.

• Uppercut: the barrel climbs steeply as it reaches the ball. You’ll pop it up or swing under it more often.
• Chop: the barrel is well above the pitch’s path and still coming down as it reaches the ball. When you do hit it, it tends to go into the ground.
• Late into the path: not too steep, but the barrel gets onto the pitch’s line late. The longer it travels along that line before contact, the more room you have if your timing is a little off.

If you uppercut: High Tee

Equipment: tee, balls, net. Dose: 8 high-tee swings, then 4 normal swings.

1. Set the tee at the top of your strike zone, about chest high.
2. Hit line drives off it. A pop-up, or clipping the bottom of the ball, means your bat came up too steeply.
3. Lower the tee to your normal height and keep the same path.

Don’t chop down at the high ball. You want a line drive, not a ground ball.

If you chop: Low Tee Line Drive

Equipment: tee, balls, net. Dose: 8 low-tee swings, then 4 normal swings.

1. Set the tee at the bottom of your strike zone, about knee high.
2. Hit line drives off it. A ball going straight into the ground means your bat came down too steeply. Get down to the ball with your legs.
3. Raise the tee to your normal height and keep the same path.

Don’t scoop up at the low ball. You want a line drive, not a pop-up.

If you’re late into the path: Two-Ball Line

Equipment: two tees, balls, net. Dose: 6 to 8 drill swings, then 4 normal swings.

1. Set two tees at the same height, in a straight line toward the pitcher, about a foot apart, with a ball on each.
2. Put the back tee where you normally make contact.
3. Swing through both balls in one swing, driving them both on a line.

Don’t push your hands at the front ball. Turn, and let the barrel stay on the line through both.