Lots of good hitting instructors teach, “Short to the ball, long through it.” That is a sound theory. However, that quote needs explanation to the baseball novice. As a hitter, you want to be as quick as you can to contact, and then follow through fully to maximize power.

Baseball has changed over the years. Pitchers have gotten stronger and throw harder. The days of the “Linear” swing are over. Professional hitters just do not have the time to get the barrel into the hitting zone in time; too much movement with the weight. Hence, we migrate to the “Rotational” swings. Rotational-type swings generally have no weight shift at all from back to front. There is a middle ground in there somewhere that must be met. A classic swing will combine both principles, linear and rotational. So Coach Dan came up with, “Get to it, get through it.” 

It’s the same principle as “Short to the ball, long through it,” but may be easier to understand. The swing is a complicated process and hard to define. It gets harder when bad things happen and easier when good things happen. During the swing, the combination of both a push with the hands (linear motion) and rotational forces (the hips and upper body) occur. When either one of these break down, a less than optimal swing takes place. For instance, when there is too much rotation with the hips and the upper body, the hitter tends to pull off, causing the hands to drag and slow bat speed. Conversely, when the hands lead too far ahead of the body, power is sacrificed by not fully utilizing the lower and upper body.

So I will define, “Get to it, get through it,” more thoroughly. Getting to the pitch is being as quick to the point of contact as you can with your hands and barrel. Getting through the ball is defined as getting full extension with the arms and body (after contact) and completing a full follow through with your swing and staying balanced.

It all has to do with the hands and the path of your hands. The smaller the arc (path) of your hands, the quicker the swing. However, there is an optimal distance that your hands must travel in order to produce the highest amount of bat speed without causing bat drag. Hands in tight and close to your head will produce a “quick” swing, yet yield no power. Hands far away from your body will produce a “strong” swing, yet late into the hitting zone.