The One Handed Follow Through

It doesn’t seem like it would really matter as to which follow through you decide to use. Whether you decide to follow through with one or two hands, you wouldn’t really think that it has too much of an impact on the rest of your swing. For most of my career I have thought that the one handed follow through was just a matter of personal preference. Something that you did if it were comfortable. What I realize now is that the one handed follow through is a vital component to a mechanically perfect swing.

Look at all of the top hitters in major league baseball. Most, if not all of the top hitters use the one handed follow through. From A-Rod to Pujols to Adrian Gonzales, it seems that players that are able to hit for both power and average use the one handed follow through. So why is that? Why is it that these hitters all have the one handed follow through in common? What I have found is that when your bat path is sound and when you are driving through the ball as much as you should then the one handed follow through is a must!

You see when you drive through the ball as much as you can you are keeping the bat in the hitting zone as long as possible. This allows greater room for error, meaning that you can be a little out in front on the pitch and still drive the ball and it allows you to take all of your energy through the ball which helps you create more power. Finishing with two hands doesn’t allow you to drive through the ball and to stay in the hitting zone. It forces you to cut off your swing early so you are not getting the maximum use of your body when you hit the ball. You will have less room for error and won’t be able to drive the ball as far.

Now before you go out and just start letting go with one hand it’s important to understand that when it is done correctly the one handed follow through is completely natural. When your bat path is sound and you are staying through the hitting zone you won’t be able to finish with two hands. You won’t have to try to finish with one hand it will just happen naturally.

So if you are using the one handed follow through think about staying through the hitting zone longer. Imagine you are trying to hit four balls out in front of your body and not just one. You will begin to notice that you are forced to finish with one hand. You will also notice an increase in power and consistency.