When the baseball season ends for a team, many opposing fans will taunt players by saying they will be back to golf. While it may be a dig at the failures of a team, it’s also an educated guess based on how many baseball players hit the links. The similarities between a baseball and a golf swing are why many baseball players make the seamless transition.
The Load Up
When a baseball player swings, they tend to put their weight on their back leg, ready to pounce. A golfer’s backswing loads up before shifting their weight forward, getting maximum distance off the club. Although it doesn’t look the same, both swings require you to load up to make solid contact.
A load of your swing affects its speed, which is an integral part of both. A slow or weak load translates to weak contact because you didn’t generate enough power for solid contact. Thus, effectively shifting your weight and being a power hitter in baseball should translate to golf.
It’s All in the Hips
With the proper load, it’s time to dissect other moving parts of each swing and what they have in common. Both swings require you to move your legs enough to clear the hips. From that point, your upper torso can turn on the ball, with your arms and hands in position to make solid contact. Shoddy results will follow if any component of that sequence loses its timing.
Fluid motion and timing are crucial for both swings, or you’re in for a long day. For baseball players, they might hit a weak groundball when their wrists roll over. You could also roll your hands with a golf swing, resulting in a duck hook.
Power Shift
A strong load shifts your pressure toward the front to crush the ball. Elite golfers can get their weight forward while turning their hips. If you struggle with this swing aspect, you can practice it, but the best hitters do this naturally. You can have a good load and swing technique and still fail at making quality contact because you never shift your weight.
Impact Center
You are now able to see the verdict of your diligent efforts. When you pick the right bat and make the best impact, you don’t even feel like you hit the ball. That’s the case with both sports. For golf, you will certainly hear the sound of a substantial impact, but you won’t feel anything in your hands.
Follow Through
The release of your swing is the equivalent of writing a thank-you letter to every component you nailed in the previous steps. Any golf or hitter needs to follow through the zone to achieve the best results. A solid release allows a golfer to manipulate the ball’s direction, while a hitter might add 20-30 feet on their home run.
Many baseball players turned amateur golfers think their natural tendencies at the plate hurt their golf game—quite the contrary. The similarities between a baseball and golf swing are evident, making it more likely that both sports will benefit your hitting.
