What if everything you've heard about hip rotation, launch angles, and "getting on time" is only half the story? In this game-changing episode of the Swing Smarter podcast, Joey Myers sits down with Xen Penny, former Diamondbacks coach and now elite private hitting instructor, to dissect some of the most misunderstood (and miscoached) elements in hitting today.

Coaches, parents, and players—if you're tired of the same cookie-cutter swing advice and want real, proven techniques that translate under game pressure against nasty pitching... this one’s for you.

🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

Why “just turn your hips harder” ruins swings — and what elite hitters actually do instead.
How to train swing adjustability so your hitter can crush fastballs and stay on breaking balls—even with 2 strikes.
The truth about lower-half mechanics and why less rotation often leads to more power.
How to eliminate “under the ball” swings (especially for lefty hitters who throw righty) by unlocking top-hand dominance.
Why Xen swears by the short bat + slider machine combo — and why it beats most velo machines for developing game-ready barrels.
The north-to-south bat path concept and how it fixes over-popped fly balls or weak 6-hole grounders.
Why aiming for line drives to the back of the net (not just doubles & dingers) is the most misunderstood cheat code in today’s game.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

🔥 Call to Action:

👉 If this episode helped you rethink your hitting approach, don’t keep it to yourself!
✅ Subscribe to the Swing Smarter podcast,
⭐ Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform,
📤 Share this episode with a coach or parent who needs to hear it,
and 💥 visit HittingPerformanceLab.com for more science-backed hitting resources that help athletes dominate

Xen Penny

Episodes