How to Increase Bat Speed: Drills and Training

By DITR staff · Updated November 14, 2026

Key takeaways

• Bat speed starts in the legs and hips. The hands are the last link in the chain.
• A relaxed grip and a short, direct path let the barrel move faster than a tight, muscled swing.
• Drills that slow the swing down teach the sequence, and then speed follows.
• Offseason training should fit the player’s age and body. Check with a doctor or certified trainer before starting a new strength program.
• Bat speed only helps if the hitter can still make contact, so balance and timing come first.

What is bat speed and why does it matter?

Bat speed is how fast the barrel of the bat is moving when it meets the ball. Faster bat speed can help a hitter drive the ball harder and farther, and it gives the hitter a little more time to read the pitch before swinging. But speed only helps when it is paired with contact, so we teach control first and speed second.

Coach Murphy Su’a, a former NCAA Division I First-Team All-American at BYU who played in the Dodgers and Brewers organizations, has coached hitters for more than 40 years at the high school, college, professional and international levels. At every level, he teaches the same idea: bat speed is built, not forced.

How do you increase bat speed?

You increase bat speed by improving the order of your movements, relaxing the hands, and training the body to move quickly and under control. Most hitters who try to swing harder get slower because they tighten up. The faster path is to fix the chain.

1. Start from the ground. Push into the back leg during the load, then drive the back hip toward the pitcher. This turns the legs into an engine.
2. Turn the hips before the hands. When the hips open first, the trunk and arms get a stretch that adds speed for free.
3. Keep the grip relaxed. A loose grip lets the wrists work. Squeeze the bat only at contact.
4. Take a short path. Bring the knob toward the ball so the barrel travels the shortest route into the zone.
5. Stay balanced. A hitter who falls off balance loses speed at the finish. Hold your finish for one second.
6. Repeat it. Speed shows up when the movement becomes automatic.

For a full breakdown of each part of the swing, see our guide to baseball swing mechanics.

What drills help with bat speed?

These are drills we use in our work with hitters. Each has a name, a method, what it fixes, and how many reps to do. Do them with a coach or an adult nearby, in a safe space with a net or open field.

Drill 1: Hip-first dry swings

1. Stand in your stance without a ball.
2. Load, stride, and turn only the hips. Keep the hands back.
3. After a pause, let the hands and bat whip through.

What it fixes: hands firing before the hips. Reps: 10 slow reps, then 10 smooth full swings.

Drill 2: Tee swings with a finish hold

1. Set the tee at belt height in the middle of the zone.
2. Swing through the ball with a short path.
3. Hold the finish for one second to check balance.

What it fixes: balance and wasted motion. Reps: two rounds of 10.

Drill 3: Top-hand and bottom-hand swings

1. Hold the bat in only the top hand and take 5 swings off a tee.
2. Switch to the bottom hand for 5 swings.
3. Finish with 10 two-handed swings.

What it fixes: weak or lazy hands, and uneven hand use. Reps: 5 each hand, then 10 two-handed. Use a lighter bat for the one-handed work.

Drill 4: Fast and smooth

1. Take 5 swings at about 70 percent effort, focusing on perfect sequence.
2. Take 5 swings at full effort while keeping the same sequence.
3. If your balance breaks, go back to the slower swings.

What it fixes: tension and over-swinging. Reps: 3 rounds.

More drills for hitting, fielding and throwing are in our youth baseball drills guide.

Do lighter or heavier bats increase bat speed?

Some coaches use bats that are a bit lighter or heavier than a player’s game bat to train speed and strength. Lighter bats can help a player feel a faster swing. Heavier bats can build strength but can also slow the swing and change the mechanics if overused.

The safe approach is to use these tools sparingly and under a coach’s eye, and to finish every session with the game bat. Players should never swing a bat that is so heavy it breaks their form. If you are not sure what weight fits, ask a coach.

How should hitters train in the offseason?

Offseason baseball training is the best time to build bat speed because there is no game pressure and time to repeat drills. A good offseason plan has four parts.

• Swing work. Tee and dry-swing drills three or four days a week, short and focused.
• Strength and mobility. Legs, hips, core and shoulders matter most. Young athletes should use age-appropriate programs led by a qualified coach or certified trainer, and check with a doctor first if they have any health concerns.
• Rest. Time off lets the body recover and prevents overuse. If a player has pain in the arm, shoulder or back, stop and see a doctor or athletic trainer.
• Throwing plan. Keep arm care in mind. Our guide on how to throw a baseball covers good throwing mechanics, and MLB’s Pitch Smart program offers guidelines for youth pitching workloads.

How do you hit a baseball farther?

Hitting the ball farther starts with the same things as bat speed: a good sequence, a short path, and solid contact. Hitters often make the mistake of swinging harder at the last second, which hurts timing. The ball travels farther when the barrel meets it squarely, out in front, with the whole body behind the swing.

A hitter who makes solid contact with a smooth swing will usually outhit one who swings hard and misses. Build contact first, add speed second.

When should a hitter get one-on-one help?

If you have worked on the basics and still feel stuck, a one-on-one session can find the cause. A coach can watch video, spot a timing or balance issue you cannot see, and give you drills that fit your body. Coach Su’a works with high school, college and professional players through DITR. Learn more about our player development program.

We also offer free baseball and softball clinics for players of all ages in the Torrance and South Bay area (next season in planning), a good place to start learning the basics.

Sources and further reading: MLB Pitch Smart