How to stop opening up too early in your swing
Opening up too early, also called flying open or pulling off, means your upper body or hips start turning before your front foot is down. The cue is to keep your front shoulder controlled through your stride, then turn. The drill is Load and Plant.
What to check when you land
Film a few swings from the side and pause on the moment your front foot lands. There are three things to look at:
- Front shoulder: it should still point at the pitcher, with your chest facing the plate.
- Hips: your belt buckle should still face the plate.
- Front foot: your toes should still point at the plate, not at the pitcher.
Opening your upper body too far before landing can disrupt the timing of your swing. We’d rather say that than promise you’ll hit for more power. What’s proven is thinner than a lot of hitting advice makes it sound.
The drill: Load and Plant
The drill has three stages. Move on as each one feels comfortable.
- Hold. Take your normal load and stride. Freeze for one beat when you land, with the bat still loaded. Check that you’re balanced, with your front shoulder controlled. Then swing.
- Shorten. Cut the hold down to a quick touch.
- Flow. Land and go without stopping, hips and bat turning together.
The hold is only for the drill. Don’t force your front foot closed, lock your knee, or add a pause to your normal swing.
Don’t fix it by freezing your hips
Your hips are supposed to turn. The question is when. After you’ve landed, let your front foot release naturally with your turn instead of twisting against a fixed foot. Your hips can still lead the swing. What you’re removing is the turn that happens before you’re on the ground.
If your swing starts before your foot is down
Same drill, different check. Your whole front foot, heel included, should be down before your hands move forward. Get the foot down first, then let the hands go.