Coaching Youth Baseball: BACK ELBOW UP…GOOD OR BAD IDEA?

Several years ago while traveling in Missouri, my son and I stopped off, as we often do, to take advantage of a commercial batting cage to get in some strokes.  The entire facility,  however, was rented out to a youth baseball team.There were no spots being unused.   The coach was busily walking from one end of the cages to the other giving them baseball hitting tips, shouting out instruction to his hitters.

“Get that back elbow up!” is what he yelled. 

“Get the back elbow “ is one of the most common statements used to instruct young hitters.  But just exactly what does it do for the hitters? Why do coaches think this is vital?

I said, “Sir, are you trying to to teach and prepare for a game?” 

He answered , “Yes, when they finish their practice.”

Then I asked, ”Coach, why do you tell your players to get the back elbow up?”

And he answered honestly, “I really don’t know why.I’ve heard it over and over again.It has to be right.”

Let’s explore some baseball hitting mechanics.What happens when the back elbow is up as the hitter goes to the ball.Many students who come to me will have their elbow up, and we will immediately adjust the elbow so that it is not up, but approximately 45° from touching the backside. 

By raising the elbow to 90°, we change the grip on the top hand, making the knuckles over-rotated, and unless the hitter makes an adjustment, prior to contact, this grip will cause him to roll his hands, losing club head accuracy to the ball.

What about the pros?Have you looked at one on TV and viewed them keeping their back elbow up?Major leaguers who have their elbow up in their batting stance do end up making an adjustment as they approach the ball.

What should be the responsibility of the back elbow?It lends support to the top hand.If your elbow cannot do this if it is as high as the hand.It gives much better support to the grip and to the top hand by being under it—not equal to it.

When checking a hitter, as he approaches the ball, the elbow should be under the bat in the formation of a “V”—which we call a “Power-V”.This keeps the grip correct and the hands in a state of strength.

Youth Baseball Tips:  The role of the top elbow is to support the bat.  When it is up, this support is lost, and the grip is changed.Stay away from this.

“Get the Back Elbow Up” is one of the worst things that you can tell your players.