Stop Pulling Your Shoulder — Start Hitting with Your Hips for More Power 💥

If your kid’s front shoulder pulls open too early, they’re leaking power before contact.

Here’s how to fix it — by learning to lead with the hips and keep that front shoulder closed.

Watch It in Action:

Why This Matters:

It kills POWER and direction.
The upper body is the weaker half — your legs and hips are where your real strength comes from.

When the front shoulder pulls open early, the barrel gets dragged around instead of fired through the zone. The swing loses its direction and the ball loses its drive.

By keeping the front shoulder closed and letting the hips fire first, you lead with stronger muscles, creating a stretch and “whip effect” that sends the barrel straight through the baseball.

How to Practice It:

Step 1: Swing from launch position (MURPH DRILL) — stride foot down, balanced, and ready to fire.
Step 2: Focus on letting your hips start the swing before your hands or shoulders move.
Step 3: Keep your front shoulder closed just long enough to feel the stretch between your lower body and upper body.
Step 4: Let that tension release naturally as the barrel whips through the zone.

Step 5: 2 x 10 MURPH drill off the tee. Grade YES or NO on each swing to see if you kept your front shoulder from leading.

💡 Coaching Cue: Think “hips → hands → barrel.” When you rotate your hips first and keep that front shoulder from flying open, your hands stay loaded — and the barrel explodes through contact.

The Result:

More muscle + more whip = MORE POWER

Shoulder closed = barrel in zone longer = MORE HITS

Players who stop pulling their shoulder early instantly feel more whip in their swing.
They’ll notice stronger, cleaner contact and more power through the middle of the field — all from one key adjustment: lead with your hips and keep your shoulder closed.

FAQs:

Q: Why do players pull their shoulder open?
A: Most hitters try to “muscle up” with their upper body, but that kills the lower-body sequence that creates power.

Q: How can I help my kid feel the right move?
A: Have them pause at launch, keep their shoulder closed, and fire the hips first — the body will instantly feel the stretch.

Q: Should the shoulder stay closed the whole swing?
A: No — just delay it long enough to build tension between the hips and hands. Then rotate naturally through contact.