365 Days to Better Baseball - Advantages of No Stride Hitting

Tuesday Tips to Tattoo the Ball - Coaching No Stride Hitters

Advantages of No Stride Hitting

No stride hitting

When I come across a hitter, who takes no stride, I generally will not change them, as long as they prepare to swing the bat with a weight shift to the backside before swinging. No stride hitting has some advantages, especially for players, who step and swing at the same time, jump at the ball (lunge), or never seem to get their stride foot down at the right time. A no stride approach helps players understand that the swing and stride are two different parts to hitting. In addition, a no stride swing helps some hitters to stay back and helps from putting the stride foot down too early or too late.

For coaches, no stride hitting is good for simplifying things when working on other parts of the swing, so hitters can concentrate on those without worrying about the stride.

Along the same lines as my original statement, I generally will not change hitters, who stride, to a no stride hitting approach because they are used to striding and changing is difficult, especially when they see a majority of hitters stride. With that in mind, hitters, who have the aforementioned problems, coaches should teach a slight knee tuck, which usually solves those hitting mistakes.

No stride hitting is generally best for beginner ball players, who tend to have trouble with lunging and stepping out, when striding. The ability to stay back is crucial to good hitting and a no stride approach generally helps that hitting fundamental.