In the world of baseball, few skills are more foundational than a proper bat swing. Whether you’re playing in a competitive league or just enjoying weekend softball with friends, mastering the mechanics of your swing can transform you from an easy out to a feared power hitter.
In this illustrated guide, we look to Ted Williams — arguably the greatest hitter who ever lived — for some pointers. Williams approached batting with scientific precision, breaking down every element of the swing in his classic book The Science of Hitting. We’ve distilled his wisdom on the science of slugging into practical steps anyone can follow. Put them into practice, and maybe one day you’ll be able to say the same thing about yourself that Ted Williams said about himself: “If there was ever a man born to be a hitter it was me.”
Illustration by Ted Slampyak
