A bat which is held more horizontally in the stance, at a forty-five degree angle or flatter, will have greater efficiency to the strike zone. Less time will be required getting it to the point of contact. More, the effect of gravity is minimized so top hand action and hip rotation are complete. Also, the path of the bat is straight and level.

A few great hitters started with a vertical (straight up) bat angle, and if it feels right for you, try it. Just remember that a level swing cannot come out of a vertical bat angle. The flatter the bat angle, the shorter and quicker the stroke.

Level Swing Production
The best hitter, from a personal and team standpoint, is the one who consistently swings at the ball on a level plane in the effort to product line drives. It's not just the line drive that makes the hitter productive, but when he "mis-hits" the ball, which will happen over 50% of his at-bats, he hits hard ground balls rather than fly balls. Balls hit in the air are a waste. Ninety-five percent of fly balls are certain outs. Ground balls get through the infield for hits, move the runners up, and put pressure on the infielders. They are always potentially productive. More runs are knocked in with ground balls than fly balls.

This may come as a surprise from a home run hitter, but that is how strongly I believe in the level stroke. Many, many of my home runs were hit with a level cut, which produced backspin on the ball for distance. My best years at the plate, those combining my top average with home run production, came after I discovered my true level cut. My true level cut felt like I was swing down, but films showed it to be level, on a direct collision course with the pitch.

The Mike Schmidt Hitting Study is available with Rob Ellis video packages
160 pages of easy to follow instructions broken down into 12 lessons. High-speed sequence photos and over 250 pictures detail hitting theory, skills, and technique.