Bryce Harper's batting practice isn't simply about getting loose and taking a few swings before a game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1yzwo-xovc

There is a progression to it.

Harper starts with drills that isolate his hands and bat path, then moves into heavier-bat work designed to challenge his swing, before finishing with regular swings that look much closer to what he'll do in the batter's box.

Here's a look at Harper's batting-practice routine and what each part is designed to accomplish.

1. Five Top-Hand Swings

Harper starts with five top-hand swings off the tee.

This drill isolates the top hand and forces him to control the barrel with the hand closest to the end of the bat.

The goal isn't necessarily to hit the ball as hard as possible. It's about feeling the barrel, controlling the path of the bat and getting the top hand working correctly through contact.

For a hitter like Harper, who generates enormous bat speed, being able to control the barrel is critical.

2. Five Bottom-Hand Swings

Next come five bottom-hand swings off the tee.

The bottom hand plays a major role in controlling the bat and helping establish the direction of the swing.

Alternating between the top-hand and bottom-hand drills gives Harper a chance to feel what each hand is doing independently before putting everything together.

It's a simple drill, but it can help a hitter become much more aware of his hands and barrel.

3. Five Swings With a Little Bat

Harper then moves to five swings using a small or "little" bat off the tee.

This is another way to challenge his ability to find the barrel.

With a smaller hitting surface, there is less room for error. The drill demands precision and forces the hitter to focus on making solid contact.

It's also a completely different feel from swinging a normal MLB bat.

4. Walking Happy Gilmore With a Heavy Bat

This is where Harper's routine gets particularly interesting.

He uses a heavy bat while performing a walking "Happy Gilmore" swing.

The drill incorporates movement into the swing rather than simply standing still and hitting from the tee.

The added weight also changes the feel of the swing. Harper has to move the heavier bat through the hitting zone while maintaining control of his body and the barrel.

It's a very different movement from a normal tee swing.

But that's part of the point.

5. Five Regular Swings With a Heavy Bat

Harper then takes five regular swings off the tee with the heavy bat.

And there's another important detail here: he's working both off the plate and away from the plate.

That makes this more than simply an overload drill.

He's changing the location of the ball and working on how he handles pitches in different parts of the hitting zone.

The heavy bat provides resistance, while the different tee locations force him to adjust his swing.

6. Five Regular Bat Swings

Finally, Harper switches back to his regular bat and takes five normal swings.

After working through the heavier bat, the regular bat can feel dramatically different.

This is essentially the transition back toward game conditions.

The hitter has worked through isolated hand drills, a smaller bat, movement drills and heavy-bat swings. Now he finishes by letting his normal swing go with his regular bat.

And that's the entire progression.

Harper's Batting Practice Routine

5× Top-hand swings

5× Bottom-hand swings

5× Little bat swings off the tee

Walking Happy Gilmore with a heavy bat

5× Regular swings with a heavy bat — working off the plate and away

5× Regular bat swings

What stands out is how deliberate the routine is.

Harper isn't just standing at the tee and trying to hit the ball 500 feet.

He's progressively preparing his hands, barrel and body for the demands of hitting.

The routine moves from isolated movements → precision → overload → movement → location work → normal swings.

By the time Harper gets to those final five swings with his regular bat, he's already put his swing through a pretty serious workout.

And that may be one of the most interesting things about watching an elite hitter take batting practice: what looks casual from the stands can actually be an extremely structured process.