Beginner
Load
Also known as: coil, gather
The load is the small backward gathering of the hands and weight before the swing starts, storing energy to fire into the ball.
A good load coils the hips and shoulders and sets the hands in a strong launch position without drifting away from the pitch. Loading too late rushes the swing; loading too early stalls it. The load is the timing mechanism that lets a hitter be on time against varying pitch speeds.
Example
As the pitcher’s arm comes forward, the hitter gathers weight onto the back leg and cocks the hands, ready to fire.
Why it matters
Many timing problems are load problems. SwingVantage reads your sequence so a fix targets when you load, not just where you swing.
Related terms
- Bat SpeedBat speed is how fast the barrel is moving at contact, in mph. It contributes to exit velocity alongside bat path and where on the barrel you make contact.
- Hip-Shoulder SeparationHip-shoulder separation is the difference in rotation between the hips and the shoulders during the swing. The hips fire first while the shoulders stay back, creating stored torque that whips the bat through.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into your swing
SwingVantage can spot this in your own swing — free to start.