Hitting the curveball

I believe in maintaining momentum throughout the swing (unless hitter is fooled). I also believe different hitters will have different recognition times and, as a result, different adjustment mechanisms. It may be in how they adjust/slow during the front leg raise or forward stride (or maybe create additional separation after foot plant), and how they maintain synchronization between the hands/upper body and the lower body during that adjustment. It is important to maintain momentum, synchronization and sequence.

If a hitter is looking fastball and has a "yes,yes,no" approach then he will be in motion by the time he recognizes the pitch. In order not to get too far out front and collapsing his front side he may have a slight pause to allow the ball to travel further before exploding.

If you are facing good pitching you need to be able to make minute adjustments. A good pitcher will fool a good hitter. But a great hitter will make the adjustment during his swing to drive the ball with authority to all fields.

The technique referenced in the article is the way my guy has been taught. Hangers go over the fence, good deuces go opposite field.

quote:

Originally posted by floridafan:
If a hitter is looking fastball and has a "yes,yes,no" approach then he will be in motion by the time he recognizes the pitch. In order not to get too far out front and collapsing his front side he may have a slight pause to allow the ball to travel further before exploding.

If you are facing good pitching you need to be able to make minute adjustments. A good pitcher will fool a good hitter. But a great hitter will make the adjustment during his swing to drive the ball with authority to all fields.

The technique referenced in the article is the way my guy has been taught. Hangers go over the fence, good deuces go opposite field.

FLfan,
Could you please explain what you mean by a "yes,yes,no approach"? Thanks...

quote:

FLfan,
Could you please explain what you mean by a "yes,yes,no approach"? Thanks...

I believe he means, your feet will start, with the hands starting slightly, as the hitter recognizes the CB, his hands and weight transfer will slow down for a millisecond, allowing his back elbow to keep connection and the barrel staying close to the back shoulder for as long as possible, thus still being able to generate power with the swing, on the off speed pitch. IMHO

I don't mean to make it complicated, to me it is just an aggressive approach to hitting, not implying anything mechanical. Just the attitude that"I am going to hit that ball". As I read the pitch comming toward me I may recognize it as a ball or a strike out of my "hitting zone". With less than 2 strikes it is a pitch that I will take. But I am looking to hit.

Oldschool put it more eloquently...

Very well put Bluedog! There's your answer Floridafan.

Blue is Spot On.

The amount of time on the back leg is important.
The front foot may land but little weight has been transferred into the front side. It is saved, fractionally longer, when offspeed is recognized.
The ability to NOT commit the weight shift fully is what allows the hitter to still have an ability to drive the off speed.

Oddly enough, Blue Dog I was going to post the exact same clip of AG. The MLer's do it so "seamlessly" that it is tough to pick up that they are doing anything differently from a fast ball swing. And indeed,,,they do keep moving, avoiding a start / stop / start pattern.

The time on the back leg (front foot in the air) is the "read the pitch" phase. Seeing enough variations is speed, while training, allows a hitter to adjust the time on the back side, instinctively,,,and is one of the reasons I don't use a pitching machine.
Will they still get fooled?
Ever seen a hitter,,,"freeze"?
Yeah. Those pesky pitchers.!

You bring up a good point, Blue.
The other thing besides mixing up pitches is I implement,
First round 5 cuts
Second round 3 cuts
Third round 2 cuts
If they foul a ball off it doesn't count as a cut.
Think about how many cuts you will get in a single at bat. It helps them,,sort of puts a little pressure on,,,kinda like a real at bat.
Ever hear a parent say?, "He does fine in the cage, but......

Also, I don't want to give the wrong impression,,BP is BP and I'm not trying to strike them out. And, if a kid is newly learning I will pitch more middle / middle---and they will get more reps.
Same thing for a kid that is more advanced but struggling.

For those that are more advanced I think the variation is good.

Blue, one more thing. Check your pm's.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueDog:
I hear Coaches say batting practice is to build confidence....Not what I think, at all...

Confidence is about knowing what to do....If you know how to maintain momentum, you will be confident...If you don't, you won't....

You will learn by swinging at change of speed...You won't learn by swinging at grooved pitches the same speed....

I have learned that if a kid thinks they can hit, you better show 'em they can't if you want 'em to have a chance to learn about momentum and how it works....If you don't, they will never learn it....

Concentration is another area Coaches and players get wrong....How often do you hear, be smart in there, use your head and think?....The truth is, concentration is about not thinking....

Alot of people think hitting is about technique....It's not....

From an article about a young Mantle and his Dad....

quote:

"Dad, I'm hungry," Mickey would say sometimes, late in the evening, while he batted left-handed to his father's hard fastballs (Mickey batted righty against Charlie, his grandfather, who threw left-handed).

"Your belly can wait," Mutt Mantle used to snap, and he might throw one at Mickey's head, just to make sure the kid was paying attention.

In those 1710 times Mickey struck out, what do you think he was thinking about most? Women? Booze? or Food???

Mistake posting clip.

All of the above

quote:

In those 1710 times Mickey struck out, what do you think he was thinking about most? Women? Booze? or Food??

More than likely,all of the above. What a player.

Well I am happy that I was able to get the thread moving again!

Where did you get the video downloads from?