R2G Academy
R2G ACADEMY
HittingJanuary 8, 2026•7 min read

Common Hitting Mistakes and How to Fix Them

From dropping the back shoulder to stepping in the bucket, we cover the most common swing flaws and provide drills to correct them.

Common Hitting Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Identifying and Fixing Swing Flaws

Even the best hitters develop bad habits. Here are the most common mistakes we see at R2G Academy and how to fix them.

1. Dropping the Back Shoulder

The problem: Uppercut swing, pop-ups, weak fly balls

Why it happens:

  • Trying to lift the ball

  • Poor weight transfer

  • Overcompensating for low pitches

    • The fix:

  • Focus on keeping shoulders level through the swing

  • Practice hitting into a net at chest height

  • Use "swing down to the ball" cue

  • Tee work with the ball at belt height

    • Drill: Place a ball on a tee at belly button height. Practice hitting line drives into a net. If you're popping up, your shoulder is dropping.

    2. Stepping in the Bucket

    The problem: Pulling off the ball, weak contact to opposite field, vulnerability to outside pitches

    Why it happens:

  • Fear of inside pitches

  • Opening hips too early

  • Poor balance

    • The fix:

  • Draw a line in the dirt to stride toward

  • Front toss from the side (forces staying closed)

  • Soft toss with focus on driving the ball to the opposite field

  • Balance drills

    • Drill: Place a cone or ball where your front foot should land. Practice striding to it consistently without stepping toward third base (for righties) or first (for lefties).

    3. Casting the Hands

    The problem: Bat head gets away from the body, slow bat speed, rolled over ground balls

    Why it happens:

  • Trying to generate power from arms only

  • Improper bat path

  • Starting the swing with hands instead of hips

    • The fix:

  • Focus on "hands inside the ball"

  • Start the swing with hip rotation

  • Practice short, compact swings

  • Use the "knob to the ball" cue

    • Drill: Practice swings with your back elbow tucked against a towel or glove. If the towel falls, you're casting.

    4. Lunging at the Ball

    The problem: Inconsistent contact, easily fooled by off-speed, poor plate coverage

    Why it happens:

  • Anxiety to swing

  • Not trusting timing

  • Poor pitch recognition

    • The fix:

  • Load and hold drills

  • Soft toss with pause

  • Work on seeing the ball deeper

  • Practice "let the ball travel" approach

    • Drill: During soft toss, wait until the ball is in the hitting zone before starting your swing. This trains patience and seeing the ball longer.

    5. No Hip Rotation

    The problem: Arm-only swing, no power, easy outs

    Why it happens:

  • Lack of lower body engagement

  • Stiff lower half

  • Upper body dominant approach

    • The fix:

  • Hip turn drills without a bat

  • Medicine ball rotational throws

  • Focus on "squishing the bug" with the back foot

  • Watch video of your swing to see hip action

    • Drill: Practice your swing in slow motion, focusing on your belt buckle. It should face the pitcher at finish. If it's still facing the catcher, you're not rotating.

    6. Head Movement

    The problem: Poor pitch tracking, inconsistent contact, fooled by movement

    Why it happens:

  • Over-striding

  • Body moving too much

  • Pulling off the ball

    • The fix:

  • "Quiet head" drills

  • Balance beam work

  • Tracking drills (watch the ball into the catcher's glove)

  • Video analysis of head position

    • Drill: Have someone watch your head during soft toss. Your eyes should stay level throughout the swing. Any significant movement means your head is moving too much.

    7. Improper Grip

    The problem: Slow bat speed, blisters, lack of control

    Why it happens:

  • Never taught properly

  • Copying bad habits

  • Trying to grip too tight

    • The fix:

  • Align "door knocking knuckles"

  • Light grip in the fingers, not the palms

  • "Hold an egg" pressure

  • Regular grip checks

    • Correct grip: The knocking knuckles of both hands should roughly align. Grip should be firm but not white-knuckle tight.

    Getting Professional Help

    While these tips help, nothing replaces in-person instruction with a qualified coach who can:

  • See your specific issues in real-time

  • Provide immediate feedback

  • Design drills specific to your needs

  • Track your progress over time

    • At R2G Academy, our coaches use video analysis to identify issues and create personalized improvement plans.

    Book a hitting assessment to identify and fix your specific swing flaws.

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