Intermediate
Stride Timing
Stride timing is when you take your forward step relative to the descending pitch. Against a high arc, the stride lands early and the hands stay back, separating the lower and upper body.
The long flight time of a slow pitch tempts hitters to commit their whole body too soon. Good stride timing lands the front foot while the hands wait, storing energy until the ball drops into the contact zone. Striding and swinging as one motion (lunging) is the most common slow-pitch fault, killing power and balance.
Example
As the ball nears its peak the hitter’s front foot is already down; the hands stay back and fire only as the ball descends.
Related terms
- Contact PointThe contact point is where the bat meets the ball relative to your body. In slow pitch it sits out front, letting you swing slightly up to match the ball’s steep descent.
- LoadThe load is the small backward gathering of the hands and weight before the swing starts, storing energy to fire into the ball.
- 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
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