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If you are interested in developing correct hip rotation as a means to enhance your swing and maintain good balance, this drill can be helpful. This drill is best performed with a bat and a helmet, although you can certainly do without them in a group practice situation.

The drill begins with the batter placing the bat behind the back, pinning it between the lower arms and the biceps, with the bat’s barrel towards the catcher. The player then assumes the normal batting stance, keeping the bat in the same locked position the entire time. With the designated pitcher winding up and delivering an imaginary throw, and the coach shouting out whether the pitch is inside or outside, the batter then goes through the normal coil and stride movements, rotating his hips as well. On an inside pitch, this rotation will be slightly wider than it would be for an outside pitch. Throughout this motion, the player should make sure that it is the back hip that is powering the movement. The coach must make sure that the player is actually rotating as opposed to moving forward to the pitcher, as many players tend to do. While the player’s weight should be transferred slightly with this movement, the hind foot should remain flat on the ground the entire time.

In this drill, the coach should make sure that the player’s hips rotate on a smooth and even plane. The player should not lean forward or move back, and maintain balance the entire time. The rotation should pivot on the back foot to ensure proper form, and the movement should end with the player standing solidly on his or her front leg. Coaches should instruct players to keep from bending the knee to maintain proper balance. The head should also stay at the same height throughout the course of the movement.

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