I
have a very strong opinion on the back elbow. For many years, actually
decades, I have constantly heard parents, coaches and managers yell out
to the batter to raise the back elbow. Let's just hold on for a minute
here. I see younger and older players as well, raising their back elbow
up to the height of their ear. (That is totally absurd) What I teach is
to make a fist with your hand that will be your top hand when gripping
the bat. Now raise the fist to about the same height as if you were
going to punch a balloon that's in front of you and across from your
chest. That height is an ideal starting point for the back elbow! In
other words, the back elbow should be slightly lower than the back
shoulder.
Larry Cicciello, Hitting Instructor
