Place your hands 6-12 inches from your dominant side armpit (right side if a right-handed batter).
Line up your "knocking" knuckles to assist with a level swing. Explore the comfortability of a "knocking" knuckles to "boxing" knuckles for a grip that could lead to more of an upper-cut swing. The "knocking" knuckles to "boxing" knuckles grip is more of a power-hitter grip and can be used later in your development if you end up progressing to a power hitter. A modified grip, with the "knocking" knuckles of one hand lined up in between the "knocking" and "boxing" knuckles of the other hand, can also be explored.
When you stride, your hands should stay at relatively the same height and stay behind your torso.
Level 1 Hitting - Feet
In your stance, you should have your feet spread apart slightly more than shoulder width. (The instep of your foot below the outside of your shoulder is a recommended possible foot width).
Your back foot should be parallel to the pitcher, with your front foot in the same position or with the toe turned slightly inward. You should be close enough to the plate for the barrel of the bat to reach the outside corner of the plate, but far enough away for the barrel to comfortably reach the inside corner of the plate.
As you stride, weight should transfer to primarily on the back leg/foot, with your front foot stepping directly toward the pitcher.
Level 1 Hitting - Balance
As you stride, the front leg should remain relatively straight, with the toe remaining slightly inward.
As you pivot your back foot, the hip movement should generate forward with the hands taking a short and efficient path from the stride position to contact position. Your body should remain balanced, with your bat level and your head steady with your eyes tracking the ball to the hitting zone.
You can check your balance by pausing your swing at the contact position to check your leg balance, your head steadiness and the balance of your shoulders (with the shoulders level, as opposed to dropping your back shoulder height).
