Baseball Swing Analysis: How to Identify and Fix Common Hitting Mistakes

A powerful, consistent swing is the foundation of a great hitter. Whether you’re trying to increase your batting average, add more power, or simply make better contact, small adjustments can make a big difference. The challenge? Many hitters don’t realize what’s holding them back. A slight hitch in the load, improper hand positioning, or poor weight transfer can all sap power and consistency.

That’s where swing analysis comes in. By breaking down your mechanics, you can pinpoint inefficiencies and make the necessary corrections to become a more effective hitter. At Concord Sports, we offer professional swing analysis to help local athletes refine their technique and build a more powerful, repeatable swing.

Let’s go step by step through the most common hitting mistakes and how to fix them.

Poor Stance and Setup

A proper swing starts before the bat even moves. If your stance isn’t balanced and athletic, everything else in your swing will suffer.

Common mistakes:

Feet too close together, leading to poor balance

Hands positioned too low or too far back

Too much tension in the upper body, restricting movement

Fix:

Start with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and weight evenly distributed. Your hands should be near your back shoulder, relaxed but ready to move. Think of your stance as the foundation—if it’s off, the rest of your swing will struggle to stay consistent.

Weak Load and Timing Issues

The load phase is when a hitter gathers energy before launching into the swing. A weak or mistimed load can cause a lack of power and poor contact.

Common mistakes:

Not loading at all, staying static before the swing

Loading too late, causing a rushed swing

Loading too early, leading to hesitation

Fix:

A good load is smooth and controlled. As the pitcher begins their motion, shift a bit of your weight onto your back leg, keeping your hands and upper body relaxed. The goal is to store energy without disrupting balance. If your load is consistent, your timing will improve.

Overstriding or No Stride at All

Your stride sets up your swing’s direction and power. Too much or too little movement can throw everything off.

Common mistakes:

A long, exaggerated stride that disrupts balance

Stepping open, pulling the swing off course

No stride at all, leading to poor weight transfer

Fix:

Keep your stride short and controlled—just a few inches forward while keeping your weight centered. Your front foot should land softly, allowing your hands and hips to fire at the right moment.

Hands Dropping Before Contact

One of the biggest power leaks in a hitter’s swing is dropping the hands too early. This leads to weak pop-ups and rolling over ground balls.

Common mistakes:

Letting the hands drop as the swing starts

Over-reliance on the arms instead of engaging the whole body

Scooping at the ball instead of staying on plane

Fix:

Keep your hands up and take a direct path to the ball. A good drill to fix this is the “knob-to-the-ball” drill—focus on leading with the handle of the bat while keeping the barrel above your hands. This helps maintain a clean, level swing path.

Casting the Hands

Casting happens when a hitter’s hands move too far away from the body during the swing. This creates a long, inefficient swing path, making it harder to hit fastballs and react to off-speed pitches.

Common mistakes:

Hands extending outward too soon

Long, looping swing that increases strikeouts

Weak contact, especially against inside pitches

Fix:

Work on keeping your hands inside the baseball. A great drill is the “towel drill”—place a towel under your back armpit and take swings while keeping it in place. This forces you to stay compact and drive through the ball.

Poor Hip and Weight Transfer

A great swing doesn’t just rely on the hands and arms. Power comes from the lower body, specifically from proper weight transfer and hip rotation.

Common mistakes:

Upper-body dominant swings with little lower-body involvement

Spinning the hips instead of driving them forward

Falling backward or lunging forward instead of maintaining balance

Fix:

Focus on shifting your weight from your back leg to your front leg in a controlled motion. A good cue is to “drive through the pitcher” with your back hip, ensuring a smooth and powerful weight transfer.

Pulling Off the Ball

Many hitters struggle with pulling off the ball, especially when trying to generate power. This often leads to weak grounders or pop-ups.

Common mistakes:

Front shoulder flying open too soon

Head pulling away from the pitch

Hands rolling over, causing weak contact

Fix:

Keep your front shoulder closed and your head down through contact. A good drill for this is the “tee drill with a delay”—after hitting the ball, hold your finish for a second to ensure your head stays down and your front shoulder remains in place.

Weak Follow-Through

A strong follow-through is a sign of a well-executed swing. If you’re stopping your swing too early, you might be losing power and control.

Common mistakes:

Cutting off the swing instead of driving through the ball

Letting go of the bat too early

Finishing off-balance

Fix:

Focus on a full, controlled follow-through where your hands finish high and your body remains balanced. Think of your swing like a whip—the power doesn’t stop at contact but continues through the ball.

Not Adjusting to Different Pitches

Even with a great swing, a hitter needs to adjust to different pitch speeds and locations. Some hitters struggle to make these adjustments, leading to inconsistent results.

Common mistakes:

Swinging at the same plane every time, regardless of pitch location

Struggling with off-speed pitches due to poor weight transfer

Overcommitting too early, leading to weak contact

Fix:

Train yourself to recognize pitches early and adjust accordingly. One of the best ways to do this is through live batting practice with different pitch speeds and locations. Another great drill is the “soft toss reaction drill,” where a coach or partner randomly tosses balls to different zones, forcing you to react and adjust.

Final Thoughts

Improving your swing isn’t about making huge changes all at once. It’s about identifying small inefficiencies and refining them through consistent, focused practice. By paying attention to stance, load, weight transfer, and hand path, any player—whether a beginner or an experienced hitter—can develop a more powerful and consistent swing.

Next time you’re at the plate, focus on one adjustment at a time and build from there. With dedication and smart training, you’ll see real improvements in your hitting performance.