Approach?

You must have a plan for every at bat and every pitch. There are some very good books and CD’s on the subject. Good hitters have a cocky approach in that they know they are good and are waiting for the one mistake that the pitcher is going to make. 2 strikes, no worries…. just keep fouling off pitches and wait for the mistake. If you get beat on a good pitch then tip your hat to the pitcher cause’ your going to get him the next time up. K’s happen and the best HS hitters fail 60% of the time. Now if you are missing good pitches to hit then this is a whole other problem that is not going to get fixed with a few batting only practices

BOF,

I agree, good hitters & good pitchers have to possess a little swagger! I guess I'm looking for consistency in the approach. For example, in one AB last game, my son took the first pitch up for a ball...pitch #2 was a fat fastball that he took...pitch #3 was a nice breakingball down that he fouled off...now he's in a hole 1-2! Ended up going down looking on a FB inside corner, first time all year going down looking. I guess when the cockiness/swagger is there, pitch #2 is Ripped! I was proud that he forgot about that AB and ended up hitting a rope his next AB. The consistency factor in the approach is what is needed.

YOU MAY DESIRE TO READ THE NEW BOOK "WILLIE MAYS".

When Willie was 19 years old and struggled with the NY Giants, Leo told him to "stand up" and go to right center field. Willie was "rolling" his top hand and producing easy ground balls.

He started to hit and get on base.

The giants won the pennant *Bobby Thompson HR].
"the rest is history".

Every hitter has a "role" on the team and good coach will explain the role many times during the season.

Bob Williams

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Williams:
YOU MAY DESIRE TO READ THE NEW BOOK "WILLIE MAYS".

When Willie was 19 years old and struggled with the NY Giants, Leo told him to "stand up" and go to right center field. Willie was "rolling" his top hand and producing easy ground balls.

He started to hit and get on base.

The giants won the pennant *Bobby Thompson HR].
"the rest is history".

Every hitter has a "role" on the team and good coach will explain the role many times during the season.

Bob Williams

I did purchase the Mental Book of Baseball for my son a couple months ago. He just turned 17, so it's hard to get him to do a ton of reading. I can tell you that he's working on driving the ball the other way, however, if I had a hitting chart on him, 80% of his hits would be middle to LF. I'll look into the Willie Mays book, thanks! BTW, right now his role is to drive in runs and utilize his speed when he gets on. We'll see if his role changes throughout the season? Again, thanks for the input.

They drill into my son's head that he is going to get one....maybe... pitch per at bat and if you get it you better drive it. Letting fat pitches go is just a poor approach. CB should only be hit if they are up, late in the count foul them off until the pitcher makes a mistake.

Eddie Murray said " a hitter will get only one good pitch each time at bat" Be ready!!!!!!

I missed a lot of "take" signs.
My vision was only 60' not 90'

Bob Williams

see it and hit it. if you can put a solid swing on the ball wherever it is, then so be it. no need to over analyze an at-bat.

quote:

no need to over analyze an at-bat.

Agree...If it's hittable, well, then, hit it.....

quote:

Originally posted by SixMonthsInALeakyBoat:
see it and hit it. if you can put a solid swing on the ball wherever it is, then so be it. no need to over analyze an at-bat.

I agree with the above, but it's not just the one AB. However, he's hitting well, when you consider the fact that he's gone down swinging about 30% of the time! He's still hitting over .400, but it would be nice to cut that strikeout percentage in half...that's what he's working towards!

Do you want to help your son.
Do not discuss the K's.

Check for the front shoulder.

If it turns early then the eyes do not follow the ball across the plate.
Tell your son to hit the ball with the front shoulder. Each strikeout is information gathered for the next AB.

When we travel to Australia, Japan, China, Korea, I interview the players as to the location of their "hard hit" line drives.

The International pitchers watch our BP and then adjust their pitching. Yes, they are that good!

Where is the dominate eye? Is he a L or R hitter?

Bob

quote:

They've faced a few pretty good pitchers, but nobody that should produce back to back double-digit team strikeouts! The coaching staff ran a practice today almost exclusively hitting according to my son. That's great, but like I said earlier...what can they do to help these kids with a better

"Hitting is contagious and so is NOT HITTING." Be patient my friend.

Bob,
Thanks for the responses thus far. My son bats and throws from the right side. We try not to discuss the K's, instead we try to use the "put the ball in play and good things happen" phrase. I'm not sure which is his dominate eye? If it's his right, he'll need to open up a little...if that's what you're alluding to?

Prime,
Hitting/Not Hitting and Winning/Losing is all contagious...hopefully the team goes on one of those positive streaks soon! They're actually doing pretty well for not hitting at their potential.

bsbl247;
Yes; if it is the right eye, he can open "a little" to see the ball into the strike zone. Another "get the edge" trick is to stand next to your catcher in the bullpen when your starting pitcher is "warming up". Your son and the catcher can determine the strike or ball by your pitcher.

"Please don't swing". Track the ball into the catcher's mitt.

When you "put the ball" in play, this is defensive hitting. Try to place a "hole" in the outfield fence. "Rip" the bat through the strike zone.
My goal was to hit the ball over the light towers, then if I fell short it would go 340'

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Williams:
When you "put the ball" in play, this is defensive hitting. Try to place a "hole" in the outfield fence. "Rip" the bat through the strike zone.
My goal was to hit the ball over the light towers, then if I fell short it would go 340'

Bob

Agreed. Work for a pitch you can drive and jump all over it. The higher up you go in this game, the less pitches you will get to hit per AB. You have to hit mistakes, and a fastball down the middle on the first pitch should considered as much of a mistake as a hanging curve ball 0-2.

Great post Bob. Look to mash. Look for a pitch you can drive. It may be the first pitch of the ab or you may not get a pitch in that ab. Trying to just put the ball in play is not a hitters mentality. Its a mentality of "I hope I dont fail" vs "I am looking to mash."

quote:

I know there are many different hitting philosophy's

247:

Thought I would throw this out for comment. I agree with the "get a good pitch to hit" and then explode on it approach endorsed by many.

However, you mentioned your son is in High School and often Coaches have a particular hitting philosophy or "Approach" they favor. Often that becomes the "Team Approach." I've seen more than one H.S. Coach implement a team wide "small ball" philosphy that entails; taking a 1st strike and trying to work deep counts, hit & runs, hitting ground balls behind the runner and so forth.

Personally, I think this example, applied across the board to every hitter, is a big mistake and serves to "hand-cuff" aggressive attack-minded hitters. I'm sure many of our High Coaches will jump on this and may or may not agree.

My son plays for one of these guys in High School and he sure knows how to inhibit offense and kill rallies. I'm not against good tactical baseball and sound execution BUT, what one hitter can handle and execute another may not be able to. I'd ask your son about the Coaches offensive philosophy if you haven't already.

On the other side of this, Jr. has been fortunate enough to play for a Travel/Showcase Coach who has extensive College and Pro coaching experience. The difference in adjusting styles to his players and when and how to employ strategies, or make moves, is like night and day!

Prime 9;
the HS coaches you are discussing are predictable and very easy to coach against.
Several years ago, I sat in the Guest Box seats at Koshien in Osaka. 20, 000 people were watching this HS tournament.

My host, the Head of all HS Baseball in Japan mentioned that the team playing was the team that Ichiro played for in HS.His coach had the players bunt until 2 strikes. That was his reputation.

I said "I would bring in the left fielder to the infield until the hitter has 2 strikes".

However this surprised the President and I understand WHY.

Bob

Prime,
His coach hasn't handcuffed him, although he does preach the take a strike approach in the late innings (6th & 7th) if they're playing from behind. Other than that, he allows him to be aggressive.

Bob,
I understand your point regarding "just put the ball in play"...thanks. I can see how that would put a hitter in a defensive mode, I'll refrain from using that two-strike philosophy from now on.

BSBl;

The 2 strike approach is important for RBi's.
One year in South Australia, I coached our Rookies '14 and under team. In the 1st game, we lost 8-1. My son called me Walter Matthau and the "Bad News Bears".

Before the next game, I told the players with 2 strikes to hit the ball "hard" to the opposite field. We won the next 8 games.

My team was 2 players from China, 8 USA players [including Brett Wallace 1st round draft] and 4 Australian players who did not make the STATE team [our competition].

Bob