The following two videos of a San Diego Padre assisted by a New York Yankee will demonstrate the importance of an accurate fitting on power and the accurate visual perception of the release of the pitch and the ball in space.  As you will see in these videos, absolutely everyone is different in their stance widths, left and right hand bat handle sizes and posture.  The most important part of this fitting is the impact balance has on the players visual perception of the ball at the release of the pitch and in space.



It would be easy for you to set up a line of balls with a fine line on each one as we do in the lab to test what you have seen in this video.  You will be amazed at the changes in your visual perception as you go through the fitting process.  Use a string line to be certain the lines on the balls are in a straight line and aimed down the middle of the plate.

The following video illustrates how different posture is for each of us.  The correct posture, stance width and grip size will give you maximum range of motion and power.



The process of fitting a bat, posture and balanced stance widths in baseball is totally dependent upon the individual’s body measurements.  The length of the bat, the bat handle size for your left and right hands, balanced stance widths for launch and landing positions and overall bat weight are determined by your body mass measurements. 

Your right and left hand bat handle sizes can be measured and sized using the paper calipers.  You can download the calipers by clicking on the blue button ("Download Calipers) in the lower left corner of this page.  Be certain to follow the instructions for calibrating the calipers as you print them.

Check your balanced stance widths.  When you find your ideal stance widths set up with your current bat in your launch position stance width.  From that set up position, look at your knees.  If the bat handle is the improper grip size for your right and /or left hands, one knee will protrude more than the other in your address position.   

If your left knee protrudes more than your right, your hip line will be “closed” to the line of the pitch (for a right-hander) and you will get stuck in the through swing.  You will tend to be an opposite field hitter and your perception of both the release of the pitch and the ball in space will be inaccurate.  On occasion, as your hands become overactive when your body stops, you will pull the ball with a “handsy” swing.  Your injury potential from this set up position is your right lower back / buttock and shoulders, elbows and wrists.    

If your right knee protrudes more than your left as Drew's did in the video, your hip line will be “open” to the line of the pitch (for a right-hander.)   You will tend to be a pull hitter and your perception of both the release of the pitch and the ball in space will be inaccurate.  Your injury potential from this set up position is your left lower back / buttock and shoulders, elbows and wrists.

Once you know the correct left and right hand sizes of your bat handle, simply use athletic tape to increase the size or remove tape to decrease the size to the specifications you received.   Differences in your right and left hand sizes may be 2 to 4 wraps of tape more under one hand.  It makes a significant difference so measure carefully.    Athletic tape adds between 25 and 50 mils per wrap, depending on how the tape is wrapped.  Measure after each wrap for both hand positions on the handle.