The bottom hand controls the bat path. The top hand adds power. If the bottom hand is weak, the swing rolls over and the ball gets pulled into the ground. This drill isolates the bottom hand so it gets stronger and learns the right path.
What you need: A short, light bat (some kids use a fungo bat, others use a thinner training bat), a tee, 10 plastic or safety-core baseballs, a fence.
Setup: Tee at belt height in line with the front hip. Kid in batting stance.
How to run it:
- Cue: Set, Load, Step, Swing.
- They hold the bat with the bottom hand only. Top hand goes behind the back.
- Swing through the ball. The bat path will feel slow and weak. That’s normal.
- Do 10 swings. The bat should swing through, not chop down.
- Last 5: add the top hand back lightly, but the bottom hand still does most of the work.
What to watch: The bat path. If the bat dips down before contact, the kid is using their wrist. If the bat stays level through contact, the bottom hand is leading correctly.
If they’re struggling: Use a lighter bat. Or have them choke up on the handle.
If they’ve got it: Switch to soft toss with bottom hand only. Or extend the drill to 15 swings per round.