What is Early Connection?

In this post, we’re going to cover one of the hitting metrics that is measured by a bat sensor, known as Early Connection.

Early connection is defined as the relationship between your body’s tilt and your vertical bat angle at the start of the downswing. In other words, Early Connection is the angle created between your bat and your torso when your hands first start moving during your swing.

The main goal for a hitter is to consistently hit the ball hard. One of the ways we can achieve that is by putting ourselves in optimal starting positions so that we can more easily adapt our swing based on the trajectory of any given pitch. Early Connection is ultimately a metric that helps measure how well we succeed with this type of positioning.

Measurement

Early Connection can be directly measured by a bat sensor and is represented by a degree number.

Most players in the MLB have an average Early Connection angle of approximately 90 degrees. There is some variation due to differences in stance and loading movements, however many of the best players in the world are measured close to this number.

Some players load their bat higher relative to their torso, which leads to an Early Connection score greater than 90 degrees. While other players may load their bat lower, producing a score of less than 90.

Falling in the range of 80-105 degrees consistently has been shown to put hitters’ bodies in the most beneficial position to succeed.

Additionally, straying too far from this range could potentially make it harder for you to get on plane with a pitch and hinder your ability to adapt to a pitch’s movement and location.

Keep in mind that most swing metrics are related in some respect and that improving or regressing in one may very well affect another.

Summary

A fundamental goal of hitting should be to consistently place yourself in the best positions possible in order to produce the most effective swings. Understanding Early Connection allows you to objectively measure your starting position and learn about your potential optimal swing path, which can help improve your overall performance at the plate.

Related Links

https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2020/04/early-connection-metric/

https://www.dacbaseball.com/wwhs-7-what-does-being-connected-mean/

https://blog.tannertees.com/hitting-drill-videos/top-hand-early-connection-drill.html