How to increase bat speed

Bat speed is the closest thing hitting has to a cheat code. More of it means you can wait longer on a pitch, adjust later, and hit the ball harder when you square it up. The good news is it's trainable. The bad news is most hitters train it wrong.

Bat speed starts in the ground

Your hands don't make bat speed. They deliver it. Speed is built in your legs and hips and handed up the chain, each body part speeding up and peaking a split second after the one before it:

When your shoulders spin open with your hips, or your hands fire first, the chain breaks and speed leaks out. Hitters who look effortless usually have this order dialed in.

What actually moves the number

• Rotational power. Med ball throws from a hitting stance, done explosively. Train the body to turn fast, not just to be strong.
• Strength in the lower half. Legs and hips that can produce force and then stop it. A firm front side is where speed transfers into the bat.
• Overload and underload swings. Swinging slightly heavier and lighter bats, in a planned progression, teaches the body to move faster. Keep the weights close to your game bat.
• Every swing with intent. Hundreds of lazy tee swings build a lazy swing. Fewer swings, all of them full speed, with rest between rounds.

Measure it

Use a bat sensor or radar and check bat speed once a week. You want a trend, not a number to chase on every swing. If it drops for a week, you're probably tired.

Habits that slow you down

• Muscling the bat with your arms instead of turning your body
• Endless tee work at half speed
• Copying a big leaguer's setup without the strength behind it
• Skipping the weight room during the season