coach only wants the ball hit to right field

My nephew who plays at a D-1 school in Va has had the same conversation with me. It seems to stem from the fact that most people pitch on the outter half and actually off the plate so much. But man hitting the ball to right even when its down the heart or inside thats crazy at least to me. As far as hitting backside I teach let the ball get deeper and replace heel to toe on the lead foot. Good Luck

Our H.S. coach is also really stressing the importance of hitting "the other way", which is usually to the right side, but also to the left side for LH batters. I know in his case, it is an attempt to teach good fundamental baseball to a bunch of kids who've grown up without benefit of good coaching teaching them the proper situations where you absolutely should try to hit to the right side, or pull it to the right side if a lefty. He's also trying to teach them to wait just a little longer to identify the pitch better and hit the away ball deeper in their hitting zone. We've got too many pull hitters on the team, even when balls are out away from the hitter on the plate, the way most pitchers seem to live in this metal bat age. I suspect that if your son talked one on one with his coach, and asked questions about situational hitting, he might come away with a different understanding of what the coach is trying to acheive. I'd bet the coach expects him to turn on an inside fastball when games start, but right now is trying to teach the players things like patience, seeing the ball well, keeping his hands back and hitting a pitch where it is thrown.

But if you setup facing RF and step even more towards it, won't the pitcher see this and just jam you? Won't it be harder to turn on the inside pitch when closed like this?

Every D1 coach/camp that my son has worked with,four or five have all asked that his hitters keep their hands inside the ball. Not only on the outside pitch but all pitches. Has one of them ever suggested striding towards the field they intend to hit it? Not One.They fully intend for a hitter to hit the outside pitch with as much power as they would the inside or down the middle pitch.
Contact points dictate where it's going not where your front foot lands.
Just my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

My son (13yrs) really hates it when I make him take BP to the opposite field, but it is one of the very best batting fundamentals a player of any age can learn.
He sets up in his normal batting stance but a little more than usuall off the plate. This will typically make the pitcher go to the outside of the plate. From there he goes with the pitch.
For anything to the outside or off the plate his stride will close toward right field and he waits for the pitch to get further back in the box, This approach allows him to still hit with power.
Anything middle or inside of plate his stride will stay parrallel to pitcher, his swing becomes more of a slap.
In both situations all were looking for is the placement of the ball.

all hitters should be working on an inside out swing
to hit the other way you should change nothing
you must let the outside pitch get deep the ball will go the other way by it self in other words
swing late intentionally
inside pitch is more difficult near impossible
seeing as most hitters stand way too close to the plate back off the plate it will be easier
any batter who comes up with men on base
must try to move the runner to force defense to at least turn double play the hard way
a hitter who is not trying to do this at least until two strikes is not playing team ball
everybody knows the double play is the worst inning killer a hot smash to short is automatic 2
the coach is probably over emphasizing in practice because they dont hit behind the runner enough
a players batting average means nothing its all about the win its a team sport

With the stance closed, maintain foot integrity. In other words if stance is slightly closed and player is trying to hit ball to opposite field, then the player shouldn't step opposite of where he is tryong to hit the ball. This is not a new concept,

The concept of stepping slightly in the direction of where the player wants the ball to go is nothing new. Read "The art Of Hitting .300" by George Brett's hitting coach Charlie Lau.

Let's not go overboard, slight, means just inside of center- line. Just like pitchers step s;ightly inside center line to maintain integrity to prevent flying open...batter's need to step inside center line to prevent opening the hips to quickly.


MaxE

I think your coach has the right idea, but wrong way of going about it. Every hitter to make it to the next level has to be able to drive the ball to the opposite field. I dont necessarily believe he is trying to make you all inside out swingers, just trying to show you how it feels to stay "inside" the ball. Posted by one of the people was that everyone should work on an inside out swing. That is absolutely false. I guarantee you that McGuire, Sosa, Rodriguez do not work on inside out swings, they work no driving t hat inside pitch over the left field wall. The only inside out swinger in baseball that has been successful recently is Jeter. His swing has gotten longer of the years and that could be a reason, by no means get me wrong, he is one of the best hitters in baseball, but not what you should be teaching your kids.

06 catcherdad, coach may, and mobunts,
i am right there with you on this one. hit the ball where it is pitched, contact point make dictates the direction.

Never mess with success. I have had guys that lit up right center on ball down the heart or on the inner half. Thats ok with me because it gets results. My son lights up left center on balls down the heart and right center to center on balls on the outter half. What he has worked hard on is taking the pitch on the outside corner and driving it to right. I tell my kids to hit their pitch so they dont have to hit the pitchers pitch. If he can live on the outside corner and will not challenge us and the umpire is giving him off the plate to the outside then we get up on the plate and take him backside. Usually if hes this kind of pitcher he does not have the gas to jam us if he busts us inside. Just my opinion on that.

quote:

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Originally posted by mittman:
06 catcherdad, coach may, and mobunts,
i am right there with you on this one. hit the ball where it is pitched, contact point dictates the direction.

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I also forgot to mention, that he has taken away his step, made him get as wide as possible, and wants his back knee almost touching the ground when he finishes. Some of the players have addapted ok to it, but others are just struggling. His last attempt was to just have him check swing his at bats to hit to right field. At the begining of the summer, he was bouncing them off the fence <left field>, and now its lil bluppers to right, or a K....swinging too late....

It's one thing for a coach to "tell" a player what he wants, it another for him to explain and show the player exactly how to do it.

Until one matches the other the request by the coach will continue to have disasterous consequences on the boys psychologically...could destroy their confidence and create antagonistic feelings.

I have explained how to do it...read Charlie Lau's book if you have a question about it.


MaxE

It seems to me that it is all about read and react. It is also about discipline. As someone else posted, let the ball get to you then drive it. I have heard a lot of my players in college now complaining about this as well. All should be practiced. However, in a game, you take what the pitcher gives you. Inside, explode the barrelhead through. Outside, let the ball come to you, stay balanced, read spin, react and drive. I do want to say that I was in a major argument the other day with an ump that says that hitters crowding the plate has changed the game. Umps in general, according to him are now moving that strikezone to 22 inches (He says even colleges are doing this as conferences.) and most pitchers are going to "live" on that outside black to dirt. Therefore, I suppose, the need for some programs to emphasis more hitting the other way.

"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen

quote:

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Originally posted by MaxiE:
1. Close the stance, place front foot more toward homeplate.
2. Place chin gently against the front shoulder (no tension).
3. Start swing when ball around midpoint between pitcher and homeplate.
4. step directly at direction of right field.
5. To hit ball to right field a RHB is more of a slap shop, like a hockey stick, very lttle to no rotation of top hand over bottom...with the bat...in other words use bat control to "slap" the ball.
6. purpose to force outfield to play atraight away open the gaps.
7. Hit behind the runner to move the runner to third base on a base hit.
...
With the stance closed, maintain foot integrity. In other words if stance is slightly closed and player is trying to hit ball to opposite field, then the player shouldn't step opposite of where he is tryong to hit the ball. This is not a new concept,

The concept of stepping slightly in the direction of where the player wants the ball to go is nothing new. Read "The art Of Hitting .300" by George Brett's hitting coach Charlie Lau.

Let's not go overboard, slight, means just inside of center- line. Just like pitchers step slightly inside center line to maintain integrity to prevent flying open...batter's need to step inside center line to prevent opening the hips to quickly.
...

It's one thing for a coach to "tell" a player what he wants, it another for him to explain and show the player exactly how to do it.

Until one matches the other the request by the coach will continue to have disasterous consequences on the boys psychologically...could destroy their confidence and create antagonistic feelings.

I have explained how to do it...read Charlie Lau's book if you have a question about it.

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Maxie,

I have read Lau's book (several times even). But I just reviewed the section called Open, Closed, or Square? which starts on p. 43. Here is the text:

There are three types of stances in baseball: the open, the closed, and the square or parallel. Each has its defenders and detractors. In the open stance the front foot is pointed out toward the field at somewhere around a forty-five degree angle to the head-to-toe center line of your body. This, some people argue, makes is easier to pull the ball. And generaly, that's true, since with your front foot in that position, you're set up to reach out and hit the ball in front of the plate.

In the closed stance your front foot points more or less straight ahead, but it is somewhat forward of a line drawn through the toes of your back foot. Proponents of the closed stance say that it puts the batter in position to hit the ball to the opposite field, as when a right-hander hits it to right field or a left-hander hits it to left field. And that's true too, since having your front foot slightly forward makes it easier for you to reach forward to get that kind of ball.

The trouble is that while each of these stances makes it easier to hit one kind of pitch, it simultaneously increases the difficulty of hitting the other. It's very tough, for example, to pull a ball from a closed stance. Most who try it end up rushing their swing, muscling the ball, and rolling their wrists over. I'm not saying it's impossible to both hit the other way (to the opposite field) and pull the ball from an open or a closed stance, but it takes an individual with special talent and with complete mental and physical control.

This is one reason why I favor the square or parallel stance. With your feet parallel, you're not precommitted and are free to do just about anything you want. You can pull; you can hit to the opposite field; you can hit the fast ball, the curve ball and anything else the pitcher cares to throw. In addition, when you're in a parallel stance, your balance is better. The open and the closed stances tend to be awkward because they make it difficult to get your weight onto the balls of your feet, where it must be if you are to be balanced.

He sure doesn't seem to agree w/ your #1 above ("Close the stance, place front foot more toward homeplate."), as he favors the parallel stance.

Also, nowhere in that section (nor any other that I can find in the book) does Lau ever advocate "stepping slightly in the direction of where the player wants the ball to go". Can you please point out the page on which I can find this?

IMO, this is a tactic that would seem to be more successful in slow pitch softball than baseball - for the exact reasons that Lau explained.

Sandman,
Thanks for taking the time to post this,good information.

Socaltruker,
Your situation sounds kind of tough,I may be inclined to ask for a conference with this coach.Find out how he can justify his theory with the results that he is getting from what sounds like was a good hitter in your son.

Getting the foot down before pitch recognition is the key to swinging "on time". Ted Williams said he could not stride to where he wanted to hit it because his foot was down before he knew the exact pitch location.

I think contact point up or deep and a lucky ( educated) guess on location are big pluses. That is why it is so important to watch your buddies at bats. Most pitcher develop a pattern. If you guess right on an away pitch , you can really help the team by driving it in the gap

In the coaches defense, some of our best games followed sessions where we took oppo BP all afternoon. Chronic pullers hurt the team.

im a lefty batter so i hit to left field. from hitting opposite way my batting average went from .400 when i was 13 years old and last year it rose up to .600. if you are trying to pull everything as i once did you end up hitting very soft grounders. now a majority of my hitting are in left center giving me a large number of xtra base hits

If I understood the original poster concern was that his coach was asking him and other players to "exclusively" go opposite field.

Actually to be honest, I really don't care what stance a player uses. I post information that I found either in books or as part of what I learned when I was a player. The individual player must find what works for him...period.

Lau says in his book that the proper way to hit opposite exclusively is "closed stance" but I made no reference to Lau's preference...which is parallel. Lau admits if going opposite is what you're trying to do the closed stance works best.

Lau says, "Proponents of the closed stance say that it puts the batter in position to hit the ball to the opposite field, as when a right-hander hits it to right field or a left-hander hits it to left field. And that's true too."

If your intent is to go to right field and you are using a closed stance...in what direction should you step if you're trying to go opposite. Your line of step is in the direction where you want the ball to go.

What's seems to be at question here is the extent of what we are talking about. these are subtle nuanced techniques. slight cheating small movements to gain an edge.

Your softball comment is very telling in that no one in BB would ever use that sort of overt action...in BB adjustments to the ball are part of the 6th tool Bob Williams of Areacode talks about.

If you can't make adjustments that make common sense then you lack 6th tool skills.

As you go up in levels your player will learn a lot more by talking with his fellow players, especially the veterans, than he will only listening to the coaches. Coaches have a very narrow view of what they want. The player is the one that has to deliver. Getting the job done is the result they are looking for...don't forget that. I played a long time, but noone will tell you this stuff.

I've spent countless hours teaching my son the subtle aspects of the game, stuff you learn only playing at highest levels.


MaxE

But Lau certainly didn't include himself among that group of proponents. Yes though, I agree that the stride should usually be in the direction of the stance.

If you're going to quote other people's writings, at least be accurate, or separate your editorial from the author's. Otherwise, it could just look like you're attaching a popular name to your cause just to try to add credibility to it.

ted williams also likes inside out swing
he said in his interview shown on tv a few months ago
scouts and coaches agree try to hit opposite alley right center left center will help you stay inside the ball which in my mind is an inside out swing
bat head slightly above hands

MaxE, What troubles me a little is that you're advocating changing the stance, presumably during the course of a game. First of all, even good HS hitters have enough trouble doing everything right at this level without messing around with their stances during a game. Maybe more importantly, if the pithcer and catcher are heads up players (not always the case, for sure)they will note the change in stance and pitch the hitter accordingly. I'd love to have my team play hitters who adjust their stances during the game.

Remember, for every adjustment your opponent makes, there is an offsetting adjustment you can make if you're paying attention to what is going on.

I recently had a pitcher work out with a AAA level pitcher who's getting ready to head off to spring training. One of the major points he impressed on our HS pitcher is the need to do EVERYTHING (except holding runners and pitch selections) consistently throughout his outing. He stressed holding the ball consistently the same in the glove every time, same stance on the mound and glove positions every time, developing as close to the same delivery as possible, every time, whether FB or breaking ball or change. His point was that as you get to higher levels, your opponent is looking for tiny differences in your approach that tip off what you're intending to do. These same principals absolutely apply to hitting. You can't go changing things around during a game or you'll tip your opponent off and just as importantly - You'll lose consistency of how you do tasks. Lose your consistency and you lose just a little of the fine edge that contributes to success.

The most successful hitters are much like successful pitchers. They develop a superior ability to repeat exactly what works for them and do it time after time, with consistency.

Someone posted chronic pullers hurt the team. Yes at times they will struggle. But boy do I love to see them up when the other team brings in the closer who is throwing gas by everyone. That chronic puller will take that and turn it around in a hurry. I like a couple of chronic pullers on my team. That does not mean I want them to pull stuff that is outside. But usually chronic pullers have alot of confidence and great bat speed. They come in handy.

Once again we are speaking in terms of small adjustments to the situation...

If you haven't practiced making adjustments then making an adjustment during a game that you haven't practiced is foolish.

During practice making adjustments based upon instructional information which makes sense, or comes from credible sources is like having tools in your bag to meet a situational need.

I keep getting the impression here advocating that baseball techniques can only be used, applied and playeed one way...that is a very narrow stance (no pun intended) to take.

Potentially it reduces your chances of being successful. Making adjustments that are practiced and incorporated into what a player can do is the reason for practice . An individual must not take the stance that learning new techniques is wrong.

the ability to adjust to a baseball situation can give both a player with the coach more confidence and IMO makes them much more effective.

Baseball is a game of making adjustments to given situations..

MaxE

Simply put, hit the ball where it's pitched with the same swing!

Inside pitch needs to be hit out in front of the plate.....the further away from the batter, the more you let ball get into you (closer to the catcher).

Watch Sosa... probably does it with power better than most!