One of the most important skills any baseball player can have while they're up to bat is a compact swing. That type of swing can help you hit the ball harder, and you'll hit the ball longer, too. You'll need to create not only bat speed, but bat quickness as well, because your bat quickness will determine how long you can wait to swing at a pitch.

All major league hitters were able to get to the level they are at because of a compact swing. Even though they may strike out quite a bit, it is not due to the compact swing, it is due to bat quickness and the ability of the pitcher. Having a compact swing does not necessarily mean that you will have a quick bat.

Building a compact swing is a goal every young player should shoot for. For anyone who hopes to improve as a hitter, a compact swing is an essential skill.

A compact baseball swing only requires a relatively small area. It should bring the bat from the starting position - the batter's shoulder - into a position where it impacts the ball while it's inside the strike zone. Instead of extending it out too far or letting the bat take an incorrect path toward the ball, the batter must keep the bat close to his head while it's traveling toward the ball. As the swing becomes more compact, the batter will be able to get the bat on the ball faster, meaning he'll be able to wait longer for the pitch to arrive before he needs to swing.

Developing a compact swing requires practice. There are several drills you can use to help. If you can't use a batting tee, coaches can stand in front of the hitter and off to the side. The coaches then drop a baseball into the strike zone. Until the hitter is able to shorten his swing and speed it up, he'll always be late with his swing and miss the ball the dropped ball.

Baseball coaches can also have their hitters stand in front of a barrier such as a wall or fence with the end of the bat against the wall or fence, and the bat handle against their chest. Have them swing after taking their regular batting stance. If their swing is nicely compact, they won't hit the wall or fence. This particular drill teaches batters to use their hands more than their arms when they're going after the ball.

A third drill that's effective for teaching a compact swing can be done by a hitter by himself. Have him place a pillow or pad under his lead arm and then take full swings, but not let the pillow or pad fall out until he's completed his swing and followed through. This drill eliminates long arm swings and develops the hands and forearms.

These tips should help if you want to create a good, solid, compact swing. Don't forget that all major league hitters have compact swings, and that having this skill is one of the reasons they were able to become high-level players. If you hope to become a better player, develop a compact, powerful swing.

About the author:
Bob Patterson has been the baseball coach for many high schools. He spends his time teaching hitting to young players and has authored many articles on the topic. Bob works for a batting cage store called Slugger's Dugout.