How to Hold a Baseball Bat for Maximum Performance

There isn’t one proper way to grip a bat. There are many proper ways. It can be confusing to pick a baseball grip if you’re a beginner, because players and coaches often have strong opinions about which grip is the best.

Contact hitters might prefer to use the choke up grip while power hitters typically use the box grip. In situational hitting, when a power hitter falls behind on the count, they might switch from the box grip to the choke up grip to avoid striking out.

The best grip for you is the one that you’re most comfortable with. To figure out a good grip, you’ll have to try the different grips and see what works. Let’s look at the basic bat grips that you can explore.

Basic Grip Techniques

Bat grip is how you hold the baseball bat. Except in a bunting situation, players hold the bat with 2 hands near the bottom of it. Having a strong grip helps hitters control the bat head barrel and it generates bat speed, which creates power. Power helps a batter hit the ball farther and harder. Depending on your strength as a batter, some grips are better than others. Below are 4 grips that are used. Each grip has variations in it that batters can use to adjust to their individual styles.

The Box Grip: It’s called the “box grip” because when you put your hands together, they form what appears to be a box. With this grip, you grab the bottom of the bat with the palms of your hand on top of one another. The back knuckles of your bottom hand, which is typically your left hand for a right-handed batter and vice versa if you’re left-handed, line up with the front knuckles of your top hand. Power hitters use this grip. The box grip generally forces a high back elbow, which promotes swinging up on the ball. Power hitters are taught to swing with an uppercut to try to launch the ball high out of the stadium. Power hitters always grip the lower part of the bat next to the handle. That way, they can use the full weight of the bat to drive the baseball.
The Knuckles Grip: In the knuckles grip, the bat rests on the inside of your top knuckles or the “knocking knuckles” are lined up. Knocking knuckles are the knuckles you use to knock on a door. Lining up your knuckles allows batters to keep their swing on one plane and it prevents your shoulders from dropping. Some coaches don’t like the knuckles grip because it restricts the movements of their elbows, causing them to turn inward. Advocates of the knuckles grip say it allows both hands to work together, which creates better bat control. Good bat control leads to fewer strikeouts and more solid contact on the baseball.
The Overlap Grip: In the overlap grip, your left hand is placed at the bottom of the bat for a right-handed batter. You can cover part of the knob of your bat with your bottom hand. Some players will drop their pinkie in that position. Your upper hand, which is your right hand for a right-handed batter, lays over your bottom hand. The fingers of your upper hand rest on top of the fingers of your lower hand. This promotes a looser grip, which can give the bat more “whip.” More whip leads to more bat speed and more speed creates more power, which allows you to hit the ball farther. Many softball players use the overlap grip. It requires powerful wrists because they drive the swing. If you don’t have strong wrists and sturdy forearms, this is a difficult grip to use.
Choke Up Grip: On-base hitters often use the choke up grip. On-base hitters usually get on base more frequently than power hitters but don’t hit as many home runs. The choke up grip is when a player moves their hands up the handle of the bat and makes it smaller. They might start gripping the bat 6 inches above the handle. Making the bat smaller gives you more bat control and it decreases the chances of strikeout. For batters who don’t want to strike out and want to put the ball in play, the choke up grip is ideal. Typically, you’d use a version of the knuckles grip if you choke up. A choke up grip isn’t good for creating power. You want to use the bat to hit the ball far. Sometimes, if a player has 2 strikes, they will choke up to help them make contact and avoid a strikeout.
Choke Down Grip: The choke down grip is when you have one or several fingers hanging off the bottom of the bat. Typically, it’s the pinkie. The advantage of this grip is that you can create more power.
Golf Grip: Some players are using an interlocking grip, which is a popular grip for a golf club. Players lock their index and pinkies at the end of the baseball bat. This can help with bat control.

Top Baseball Bat Grip Mistakes

Even the fundamentals of how to hold a baseball bat are nuanced. How hard you grip a bat or what part of your hand should hold the bat is more art than science. Still, there are some basic guidelines to follow that should help you maintain a proper grip.

Gripping Too Tightly: It’s important to use a balanced grip. Grab the bat firmly enough to hold it but loose enough to make a full swing. Sometimes hitters squeeze the bat too firmly because they’re trying to hit a home run. If you clutch the bat too hard, you’re wasting energy. Your body and hands will reflexively power up for a big swing. It’s best to stay as relaxed and focused as possible in the batter box. That means gripping the bat in a way you can control it without squeezing too hard.
Gripping the Bat with Your Palms: Grip the bat with your fingers, not your palms. Using your fingers gives you better bat control and more bat speed. Placing the bat in your palms gives you less flexibility to adapt to pitches that come at you from different angles.
Incorrect Grip Placement: If you use a knuckles grip, don’t try to switch to a box grip during an at-bat. Players should know exactly where their hand placement is on the bat and repeat it the same way every single time. Even a minor grip switch for an at-bat can throw a hitter off.

The Importance of Grip Strength

Why should you have a strong grip if you don’t want to hold the bat too tightly? Because when you swing the bat and contact the baseball, your hands reflexively engage in the process. A strong grip at the point of contact creates more bat speed. Players use around 50% of their grip strength on contact with the ball, according to OnBase University. Grip strength can also compensate for lack of size. Players who are 5-foot-8 and weigh 165 pounds can generate as much power as a 6-foot-4, 220-pound hitter if they have strong grips. Below are 3 ways to strengthen your grip. Note: Always consult with your physician before starting a new exercise program.

Wrist Curls: Using a dumbbell, sit on the end of a bench with your arm resting on your thigh. Making sure your wrist is pointed toward the ceiling, do 3 sets of 10 curls with each wrist. Do 3 more sets with the same motion with your palm facing the ceiling.
Deadlifts: The primary focus of a deadlift is to work your back, legs, and shoulders, but it’s also great for increasing your grip strength. Using a barbell and standing with your legs shoulder width apart, put your feet under the bar so that your shins are a few inches away from the barbell. Keeping your back straight, bend over and grab the weight with your hands shoulder length apart. Pull up on the weight with your bottom sticking out and your back straight. Bring the weight to your waist and with control, lower the barbell back to its original spot. Do 3 sets of 10.
Hand Grip Strengthener: Using a hand grip strengthener, which is a spring-loaded handle that fits the 5 fingers in your hand, squeeze it until your hand becomes tired. Repeat with the other hand.

Finding the best baseball bat grip is trial and error for beginners. For experienced players, perhaps tweaking a grip you currently have or even considering a new grip is something to consider if you’re struggling. Wherever you’re at with your grip, it’s important to make sure the grip you have is comfortable. A comfortable grip will make you feel confident at the plate, which can make you a better hitter.