Be comfortable

Find a comfortable stance to give yourself the best opportunity to effectively see the baseball and execute your swing properly. A comfortable stance usually means having your feet set apart so that you are balanced, your knees flexed, and your body bent slightly at the waist. I also agree with the idea that, if you see your favorite player and want to be like him, feel free to emulate his stance.

Start back to go forward

Just as pitchers step back to go forward and golfers turn back to drive the ball, hitters need backward movement to set the body in forward motion. This movement allows you to be quick as you start your swing.

Get a good ball to hit

As simple as it may sound, it is critical that you know the strike zone and know yourself as a player. Being aware of which pitches are strikes and which pitch suits you will put you in the proper thinking mode necessary to hit successfully.

See through the ball

Just as you are taught to hit through the ball and pitchers are instructed to throw through the catcher, the same principles apply in seeing through the release point. Don't just watch the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand, set your sights beyond the release point.

Think short and quick

To generate bat speed, you must have a "quiet" lower body and quick hands. You can be quicker to the ball by choking up on the bat to create a shorter stroke and switching to a lighter bat to increase your bat speed.

Relax

Muscle tension will hinder quickness in your swing, so it's important to be as relaxed as possible. If you made an error or struck out last time up, you have to put those things out of your mind; mental tension can translate into physical tension and compound the problem. Relaxing may be easier said than done, but it's an ability that all great hitters have.

Stride

It varies with every player, so you have to find your own comfortable stride that allows you to stay balanced through the completion of the swing. And it's important to stride towards the ball with your front foot closed - that is, with its big toe pointing slightly inward toward the plate. Keeping the foot closed will make your front side firm and prevent the shoulder and hip from opening too soon.

Hit the ball out in front

Having your arms extended and out in front of home plate is the preferred point at which to hit the ball for maximum power. Whether it's an inside or outside pitch, stride towards the ball and make contact out in front as you drive through the ball.

Finish balanced

When you have followed all these principles and completed your swing, you should still be balanced, finishing strong on a firm front side.