What do you all think is the main difference/adjustment that needs to be made by a hitter in swinging at a fastball versus a curveball? Is the stride foot down at the same time when hitting both of these pitches?
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Thing about it, if you knew what pitch was coming would the hitting mechanics change? The pitchers job is to disrupt hitters timing. If the hitter strides like a fastball is coming and fires his hands like a fastball is coming and the pitch arrives later than expected then mission accomplished for the pitcher. A hitter can't do much with the ball when he's expended all his potential energy. However, when the stride is expended but the hands remain back, the hitter has some options as some energy remains stored. IMO it's all about recognition and learned discipline for the hitter. Beyond all the above there are a number of philosophies regarding hitting the breaking ball. One of the best exhibitions recently was Florida vs Chicago in the NLCS two years ago. The Marlins took to the philosophy of hitting every good breaking pitch to the opposite field eschewing a potential long ball for the higher percentage of just poking it into right. A hitter has to know what's coming or guess right to really turn on a ball, but if your hands remain ready to launch, anyone can poke it into the opposite field...IMO it did the Cubbies in...not Bartman. 
EK,
The stride foot has to come down at the same time because you do not know what he is throwing. You only recognize and decide to swing/take after the ball is released.
The stride foot has to come down at the same time because you do not know what he is throwing. You only recognize and decide to swing/take after the ball is released.
This is where eye/hand coordination is so important
Some guys never learn to hit the curveball-- as in STEVE BILKO
Some guys never learn to hit the curveball-- as in STEVE BILKO
Think fastball react to curve. I know easier said than done. The most important thing is keep your hands back. I always told my pitchers if you see a kid overstriding and lunging throw him breaking balls. Hitters must learn as early as they can to work the count. Get into the pitchers head. what are his tendencies. when does he throw his breaking ball. does he have confidence to throw it for a strike especially behind in the count. think think think.
Major diffrence is that you have to read and react. This is done in tenths of a second. See spin and yet, keep the hands back long enough to drive the ball whether the pitch is inside (jerk the ball - usually a hanger) or outside (opposite field). Now, if you wait long enough, someone will post on here some 2 page disertation on all of this but this is the simplistic version. BTW, this is why the changeup is such a good pitch. Really, the change should be the second pitch a pitcher works on and should be their second best pitch next to a located fastball.
Hitters with bat speed, can wait longer to start the swing and that help them to reconize the pitch better. Agree with the idea of be ready for fastball outside, and react to inside pitch, and to breaking pitch.
