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Batting stances are like fingerprints in that there are no two alike. They vary from one
player to the next but key characteristics are shared by all successful hitters. It is in these
shared areas that parents and coaches should instill positive habits. The stance is the
starting point of a mechanically correct swing. If a batter is unable to achieve all or most
of these common traits, the opportunity for greater success or improvement will be
minimal.

feet position

The position of the feet often play an important part in a player's swing. The location
and the direction are integral to a batter generating power, bat speed, and consistency.
Below are a few tips to ensure proper feet position:

A player's distance from the plate should be determined by his/her ability to get full
plate coverage i.e., the ability to reach both inside and outside pitches. This can
vary from one player to the next based on the player's size and level of
comfortability. Generally, young players frequently position themselves too far from
the plate in such a manner that prohibits them from making contact with outside
pitches.

The depth of a hitter's stance refers to the position of the feet toward the front or
back of the batters' box. Young hitter's largely position themselves too much
toward the front of the box closer to the pitcher. The closer the pitcher is to the
batter gives the batter less time to react to an exploding fast ball or a change in
speed of the pitch. A recommended position is one in which the back corner of the
plate dissects the center of the batter as shown below.

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A batter's feet should always be aligned with the
pitcher in the stance. Closed and open stances can
prohibit proper hip and shoulder rotation as well as
incorrectly change the batter's head position. This
will ultimately minimize a hitter's bat acceleration and
power.

Kraig S. Kupiec is known as an
authority on teaching hitting to young
players. He provides individual and
group instruction at Inside the Park
Hitting Facility in Fall River, Mass. He
currently serves as the Hitting Coach
at the University of Massachusetts
Boston. He played at Wake Forest
University and was selected by the
Houston Astros in the Major League
Baseball draft in 1991.

The width between the hitter's two feet in the stance should be both comfortable
and effective. Generally, young hitters' feet are too narrow whereas contributing to
improper weight transition in the swing. In some cases, they are too far apart
inhibiting hip rotation. A batter who is not turning the hips properly or transferring
weight to the front foot should adopt a feet width a few inches wider than his/her
shoulders.