Do you think it is better for hitters to hit off a machine or live person in bp to get the kids to be able to hit a fastball 80-85?
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what age?
The book, The Sports Gene by David Epstein, argues that hitting is a largely practiced response to the pitcher’s mechanics, watching his windup and release. As I understand it, at higher speeds, the ability to actually "see" the ball and hit is very difficult. The batter is often anticipating where the pitch will go based on reading the pitcher. (The example used in the book was that Pujols couldn't hit a Jenny Finch pitch because the mechanics were so different.)
Here is an excerpt from Sports Illustrated: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c...sports-gene-excerpt/
Using that argument, it would seem more helpful to hit off live pitching than off a machine.
Curious what others think.
Ive always felt that live BP was better real life quality, iron mike is best for quantity....my son always said timing iron mike is easier than a real life pitcher....
I prefer seeing the kids hit off of live pitching. Makes them adjust more.
IMHO live is almost always better than machine. Machine is good for the dark, and for winter, and for getting lots of reps quickly, and for working on bunting. But the sameness of each pitch, especially when those dimpled cage balls are used, doesn't force the hitter to adjust.
It sounds like you're concerned that you don't have an arm available that will get kids ready to hit 80+ pitching. In that case you could consider paying somebody with recent pitching experience to throw. If that's not possible just move your L screen as close to the batter as you need to make it sufficiently challenging.