To hold a bat well, put your hands together, line up your knuckles, and grip firmly but without over-squeezing. A good grip gives you control and bat speed; a tense one robs you of both.
The basic technique
Your bottom hand is your non-dominant one (for a right-handed hitter, the left). Hold the bat more in your fingers than your palm, and line up the middle knuckles of both hands. That alignment frees your wrists for a quick, loose swing.
Common mistakes
Squeezing the handle with all your strength is the most common error: it locks up the swing and saps speed. Another is separating the hands or misaligning the knuckles. Golden rule: relaxed hands until the moment of contact, when the grip tightens on its own.
FAQ
Which hand goes on the bottom?
Your non-dominant hand: the left for a right-handed hitter, the right for a lefty.
Should you grip it tightly?
No: keep your hands relaxed; over-squeezing slows the swing.
