Does anyone know any drills I can use to learn how to hit an Inside Pitch. For some reason I am struggling with this pitch. Thank you. 
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
BP with inside pitches is the most important, unless you have trouble w/ mechanics. Rotate the hips in order to hit the ball solidly, otherwise pitchers will jam you all day.
Use a Tee to work the right mechanics first.
The key is to keep the arms bent and compact, especially the lead arm and make contact further out in front of the plate that you normally would.
Then maybe use a batting cage/pitching machine set up for very very inside pitches. If you can start hitting pitches aimed at your stomach you are OK.
The key is to keep the arms bent and compact, especially the lead arm and make contact further out in front of the plate that you normally would.
Then maybe use a batting cage/pitching machine set up for very very inside pitches. If you can start hitting pitches aimed at your stomach you are OK.
Best advice..talk to your coach. Ask him what's wrong because he's the only one out of anybody who sees you swing everyday.
Z-dad
Im sure you mean well, but this is not good advice.......Chameleon, be nice
quote:The key is to keep the arms bent and compact, especially the lead arm
Im sure you mean well, but this is not good advice.......Chameleon, be nice
So I suppose Ortiz is doing it all wrong then?
Looks like pretty sound advice to me.
Looks to me like Ortiz let himself get jammed. Happens to everyone from time to time.
The key to hitting the inside pitch is to initiate the swing earlier, making contact when the ball is ~18" in front of the plate. Then no mechanical adjustments are required.
The key to hitting the inside pitch is to initiate the swing earlier, making contact when the ball is ~18" in front of the plate. Then no mechanical adjustments are required.
if i was u i would hit about 50 to 100 balls off the tee with it set up for an inside pitch
quote:Originally posted by Texan:
Looks to me like Ortiz let himself get jammed. Happens to everyone from time to time.
The key to hitting the inside pitch is to initiate the swing earlier, making contact when the ball is ~18" in front of the plate. Then no mechanical adjustments are required.
He hit that for a homerun, if he was jammed I'd like to jammed like that all the time. No, he swung like that on purpose.
While it is possible to hit inside pitches by swinging earlier you will either hit it foul or you will need to setup further from the plate to make it work like Ryan Howard used to do in the minors.
Ryan Howard made it into the big leagues by mechanically adjusting his swing for inside pitches as I described. This allowed him to crowd the plate and get better plate coverage.
Other than extending or contracting the arms more for outside and inside pitches I would agree that no other mechanical adjustments are needed.
Im sure that isnt ortizs best swing nobody wants to have alligator arms when hitting and inside pitch,,the guys such a brut he could probably muscle that ball out if he gets it sweet,,but lets face it thats not a picture perfect cut for ANY pitch
If anyone doesn't understand the meaning of staying inside the ball... Watch the video above!
Some of the best hitting coaches I've known teach exactly what Ortiz is doing. Clear the front elbow on the inside pitch! Get hands in, it keeps top hand palm up and you can square up on the inside.
It also helps to be as strong as a horse when you are getting jammed!
Some of the best hitting coaches I've known teach exactly what Ortiz is doing. Clear the front elbow on the inside pitch! Get hands in, it keeps top hand palm up and you can square up on the inside.
It also helps to be as strong as a horse when you are getting jammed!
quote:Originally posted by Z-Dad:
While it is possible to hit inside pitches by swinging earlier you will either hit it foul or you will need to setup further from the plate to make it work ...
Incorrect. Make contact with the inside pitch 18" in front of the plate and you will hit it to left, not foul.
No early extension is required (or would even be conceivably desirable). The hitter will still be "staying inside the ball" for those who use that verbal cue.
quote:Originally posted by Texan:quote:Originally posted by Z-Dad:
While it is possible to hit inside pitches by swinging earlier you will either hit it foul or you will need to setup further from the plate to make it work ...
Incorrect. Make contact with the inside pitch 18" in front of the plate and you will hit it to left, not foul.
No early extension is required (or would even be conceivably desirable). The hitter will still be "staying inside the ball" for those who use that verbal cue.
Again, that will only work consistently if you maintain a larger distance from the plate. A batter who chooses to crowd the plate must make the adjustments that Ortiz does.
...if you maintain a normal distance from the plate.
Take a tee out to the field & try it. That will settle the question very quickly.
Take a tee out to the field & try it. That will settle the question very quickly.
Z-Dad,quote:Originally posted by Z-Dad:
He hit that for a homerun, if he was jammed I'd like to jammed like that all the time. No, he swung like that on purpose.
Actually that swing(s) resulted in a double off the right field wall. How do I know this? Well, because I made both clips. They are replays of the same swing from the ALCS back in 2002 against the Angels. If you look at the properties of both clips you'll see that they say "Double". I typically include the result of the swing in the name of the clips I make.
Just thought I'd let you know.
Jason
Hey hey FlippJ, a big thanks for making the clips and the explanation. Sorry, I saw someone who posted it claim it was a HR and assumed it was true. Awesome that it is a front and side view of the EXACT same swing, you rarely get that in a vid.
Still, a very nice hit.
Still, a very nice hit.
A nice hit indeed! You're welcome.quote:Originally posted by Z-Dad:
Hey hey FlippJ, a big thanks for making the clips and the explanation.
Jason
I really think you have to keep it simple, hand inside, swing the hips, think, think think in what .2-.3 seconds. I don't know, the simple approach to me is fence drill,fence drill, fence drill and always think hitting the ball up the middle, the rest takes care of itself.
Maybe I should expand on that, for our young contributor, The fence drill keeps your swing short and compact,(Go to a fence or any vertical plane, get as close too it as you can, usually the length of your bat from your belly to the fence, take your normal load and swing without the bat hitting the fence.This may take some time so use a cheap or used bat)You will automatically adjust to the outside or inside pitch by always thinking hitting the ball up the middle. That is a great video of Ortiz, but if you really look at it, the hands come in, the barrel is at an angle and plane to hit the ball up the middle, it is inside and he pulls it some, that reaction is a direct result of the hitting to the middle approach. He does not adjust his swing, the placement of the pitch determines when he hits it. The plate is only 17" wide. Meatball down the middle great but why do we all have to think the this major adjustment has to be made for the 8 inches on either side of that. Middle, middle, middle. You know you can think yourself into a terrible slump. Do your drills, pay attention to the game, work as hard as you can but the bottom line is be an athlete!!! Don't think so much!!
Middle. middle, middle lol
NEVER do the fence drill.
Can you expand on that comment?
The fence drill teaches pushing the arms and hands.......Not what MLB hitters do..... 
N E V E R do the fence drill.
Is this what you want your swing to look like??....I hope not!!
http://photos.imageevent.com/siggy/forums/enforcer-disconnect.gif
http://photos.imageevent.com/siggy/forums/enforcer-disconnect.gif
Here is what the fence drill teaches.....
http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/analysis;jsessionid...&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=9
http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/analysis;jsessionid...&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=9
Thanks, Blue Dog, very constructive and informative. The videos are great but seem to exagarate the drill,the last one is the best, the disengaement of the elbow can be a real problem, but the coach seems to be extremely close to the fence,it would appear that the only way this drill would work for him is if he was using a 20 inch bat. He is 2-3" from the plate and the fence is on the outside corner. Seems to me to be an improper approach to the drill. I am not saying that this drill is the be all end end all of hitting, but those examples seem to be an improper approach to the drill itself. It would seem to me if done properly it would help to teach keeping your hands inside the ball. I am not looking for an argument here, just a constructive dialogue, I really appreciate the effort.
How far must one stand from the fence, to do the drill properly?
Who tells you that?
Who tells you that?
Well at the very least the length of the bat. Chameleon, I am not trying to induce an attitude here,or a confrontational thread. Just trying to learn and bounce some things around. At the very least,at the end of this we can always agree to disagree. I want to learn from you guys, but you have to give me more than just don't do it. BlueDog gave me his opinion and the basis for that opinion and I respect him for that, I also see his point, but to respond with just "don't do it" with no explaination is not fair to my time and the others on this site who really want to exchange opinions, Hell, if I was right all the time I would not be here. I would be on working on my second billion dollar deal somewhere.
What good is the fence if you have to stand a certain distance from it?
By the way I still have not figured out my 1st billion dollar deal. Just so you know where I am coming from LOL
As I said before I think it helps you keep you hands inside the ball. Not think so much and drive the ball up the middle.
Or pull or shoot the ball based on the pitch
Ortiz is keeping his back elbow close to his body and does not get to extension in front to hit the inside pitch.
Keys: Keep elbows tight, turn and burn, don't be concerned with extension.
Keys: Keep elbows tight, turn and burn, don't be concerned with extension.
What do you mean by "Front elbow Disconnection"?
Thanks
Thanks
Front elbow is disconnecting from the body. Flying away. This gets the barrel out front and keeps it tight.
Papa's correct
How ya' doing baseballpapa?? I know this is a hitting thread but heard that RHP FSU reliever named Casey Whitmer was lighting up those stalkers' the other night. He pitched a couple of innings against those Blue Devils didn't he? Tell see-dub/CW Shep says "great job" and keep up that superior freshman work for those 'Noles See ya' soon brother! Hope you received the mail I sent ya'.
peace shep
How ya' doing baseballpapa?? I know this is a hitting thread but heard that RHP FSU reliever named Casey Whitmer was lighting up those stalkers' the other night. He pitched a couple of innings against those Blue Devils didn't he? Tell see-dub/CW Shep says "great job" and keep up that superior freshman work for those 'Noles
See ya' soon brother! Hope you received the mail I sent ya'.peace shep
Shep
You did it again !!!!
piece
You did it again !!!!
piece
The hitting gurus forgot to tell you how the Japanese players who won the World Championship hits the inside pitch --- they step out and run while they hit it.
Anyone else see it differently?
Anyone else see it differently?
quote:piece
Piece? ....of what?
quote:they step out and run while they hit it.
SO that's how the right hand hitters get those triples. They just run straight to third.
This is a riot!!! 18" in front of the plate??? You better know what pitch is coming before it is thrown if the pither has a 90s+ fastball. I'd get you out with change-ups all day!
quote:Originally posted by Texan:quote:Originally posted by Z-Dad:
While it is possible to hit inside pitches by swinging earlier you will either hit it foul or you will need to setup further from the plate to make it work ...
Incorrect. Make contact with the inside pitch 18" in front of the plate and you will hit it to left, not foul.
No early extension is required (or would even be conceivably desirable). The hitter will still be "staying inside the ball" for those who use that verbal cue.
Try to hit that 90 mph inside fastball when the ball is over the plate and then pick up the pieces of your bat. Unless you're backed up to the far edge of the box. In which case, it won't even take a c/u to get you out. Just a pitch on the outside half of the plate.
A good changeup is the most devastating pitch in baseball. Regardless.
A good changeup is the most devastating pitch in baseball. Regardless.
Get a Tony Gwynn or John Cohen DVD on hitting. They have some great drills for hitting different pitches in different parts of the zone. Recognition is the key and practice makes perfect, well...closer to perfect anyway.quote:Originally posted by Baez Boys:
Does anyone know any drills I can use to learn how to hit an Inside Pitch. For some reason I am struggling with this pitch. Thank you.
Okay Texan, I'll give you that one since you gave me a good answer on a umpire/rule call earlier. Maybe I misunderstood what you were saying or maybe we believe the same thing just explain it differently. I think maybe 18" in front of your body. Is that what you're saying? The difference in the contact points between an inside and outside pitch is about the width of the plate from front to back. For tee work, if you get into contact position in your normal stance for a pitch down the middle with ball in the sweet spot, all you have to do is move the tee to the inside corner and then toward the pitcher until you can rotate the sweet spot to the ball without moving your hands from in front of your belly button.quote:Originally posted by Texan:
Try to hit that 90 mph inside fastball when the ball is over the plate and then pick up the pieces of your bat. Unless you're backed up to the far edge of the box. In which case, it won't even take a c/u to get you out. Just a pitch on the outside half of the plate.
A good changeup is the most devastating pitch in baseball. Regardless.
P.S. I love the Kofax quote and believe it to be oh so true!
quote:Posted March 29, 2007 12:49 PM Hide Post
If anyone doesn't understand the meaning of staying inside the ball... Watch the video above!
quote:Some of the best hitting coaches I've known teach exactly what Ortiz is doing. Clear the front elbow on the inside pitch! Get hands in, it keeps top hand palm up and you can square up on the inside.
My son is taking lessons from Al Bumbry. He has taught him to do EXACTLY as Ortiz is doing. He wants him to pull his lead hand down and in.
It has resulted in my son being VERY good at "turning" on the inside pitch to the point where some of his coaches have tried to see how far in they can go....usually resulting in foul balls over the 3rd base bench.
Now...if we could do the same with the outside pitch. He always wants to try and pull those as well.....weak ground balls to 3rd.
I recommend you analyze what you're being taught.
For the record it's not me who's being taught, it's my son.
That being said.....in what way should I "analyze" what he's being taught. Al was a respectable major league hitter for quite some time and the results for my son at the plate are unmistakable.
Oh.....not to mistake, he is also stressing that he hit the inside pitch in front of the plate, while waiting for the ball to get to the plate for an outside pitch.
What are your credentials if you don't mind my asking?
That being said.....in what way should I "analyze" what he's being taught. Al was a respectable major league hitter for quite some time and the results for my son at the plate are unmistakable.
Oh.....not to mistake, he is also stressing that he hit the inside pitch in front of the plate, while waiting for the ball to get to the plate for an outside pitch.
What are your credentials if you don't mind my asking?
Oh....to be clear, I've seen the clips of the fence drill, and concur that those clips show a disconnect in the lead arm (casting). I don't have clips of my son, but I can assure you this is NOT what he's being taught.
I would have to say Chameleon knows what he's talking about, but not sure he knows how or even wants to relay it to someone else. I think that a repeatable swing is the key to hitting and I don't believe you change it to hit different pitches. Timing is everything! The swing is the same, the contact point is different. If you take the best hitters' swings and tape them from the front, the swing will be the same on most pitches. The only difference will be if they have to make adjustments on the fly or if they get fooled. Such as, if a ball that you think is on the inside corner and you are trying to hit it out front and it cuts in a little more than you thought, you will need to pull your hands in more to get the bat head on the ball. The opposite goes for an outside pitch, meaning you will have to throw both hands some if the pitch is cutting away. If you want to learn how to hit inside and outside pitches, get U of K's John Cohen's DVD, he has some great drills!quote:Originally posted by sptsnt00:
For the record it's not me who's being taught, it's my son.
That being said.....in what way should I "analyze" what he's being taught. Al was a respectable major league hitter for quite some time and the results for my son at the plate are unmistakable.
Oh.....not to mistake, he is also stressing that he hit the inside pitch in front of the plate, while waiting for the ball to get to the plate for an outside pitch.
What are your credentials if you don't mind my asking?
quote:I would have to say Chameleon knows what he's talking about, but not sure he knows how or even wants to relay it to someone else. I think that a repeatable swing is the key to hitting and I don't believe you change it to hit different pitches. Timing is everything! The swing is the same, the contact point is different. If you take the best hitters' swings and tape them from the front, the swing will be the same on most pitches. The only difference will be if they have to make adjustments on the fly or if they get fooled. Such as, if a ball that you think is on the inside corner and you are trying to hit it out front and it cuts in a little more than you thought, you will need to pull your hands in more to get the bat head on the ball. The opposite goes for an outside pitch, meaning you will have to throw both hands some if the pitch is cutting away. If you want to learn how to hit inside and outside pitches, get U of K's John Cohen's DVD, he has some great drills!
While I'm no expert by any stretch, I cannot imagine for any reason that one could use the "same" swing to hit a 87 mph slider down and away that you would use to hit a 94 mph fastball up and in. The strike zone is 17" wide and every bit of 3' high (or it should be), an advanced hitter should be able to identify the pitch and adjust his swing to match the pitch.
I'm not about to get into a long and technical debate about this, I simply do not know enough about it.
I was simply reiterating an opinion of a major league hitter using his hands to adjust the location of the barrel of his bat as being something another major league hitter was teaching my son.
He has also taught him how to adjust his legs to hit higher and lower pitches so as to not disrupt where his hands NEED to be in order to get the barrel of the bat on the ball.
Thanks for the input, though.
I think we kind of said the same thing, but I said make adjustments on the fly. Timing to the pitch would be the only difference in a 95mph pitch and a 87mph pitch the path to the ball would be the same if both were inside or both were outside if they were still in the zone at contact. You may need to weather vane your front elbow to hit the pitch up in the zone though. I think it's cool that his instructor is giving drills to learn on the fly adjustments. Muscle memory works. Tony Gwynn and Ted Williams both practiced hitting balls out of the zone using tee work and it certainly worked for them. Good luck to your son!quote:Originally posted by sptsnt00:quote:I would have to say Chameleon knows what he's talking about, but not sure he knows how or even wants to relay it to someone else. I think that a repeatable swing is the key to hitting and I don't believe you change it to hit different pitches. Timing is everything! The swing is the same, the contact point is different. If you take the best hitters' swings and tape them from the front, the swing will be the same on most pitches. The only difference will be if they have to make adjustments on the fly or if they get fooled. Such as, if a ball that you think is on the inside corner and you are trying to hit it out front and it cuts in a little more than you thought, you will need to pull your hands in more to get the bat head on the ball. The opposite goes for an outside pitch, meaning you will have to throw both hands some if the pitch is cutting away. If you want to learn how to hit inside and outside pitches, get U of K's John Cohen's DVD, he has some great drills!
While I'm no expert by any stretch, I cannot imagine for any reason that one could use the "same" swing to hit a 87 mph slider down and away that you would use to hit a 94 mph fastball up and in. The strike zone is 17" wide and every bit of 3' high (or it should be), an advanced hitter should be able to identify the pitch and adjust his swing to match the pitch.
I'm not about to get into a long and technical debate about this, I simply do not know enough about it.
I was simply reiterating an opinion of a major league hitter using his hands to adjust the location of the barrel of his bat as being something another major league hitter was teaching my son.
He has also taught him how to adjust his legs to hit higher and lower pitches so as to not disrupt where his hands NEED to be in order to get the barrel of the bat on the ball.
Thanks for the input, though.
Remember the key to hitting the inside pitch is making contact out in front. Also keeping your hands inside. Which no matter what you do want to keep your hands inside the ball " this is where most of your power and bat speed come from" and on a inside pitch you want to catch it out in front of your front hip and not at your front hip. You can rotate, dance do the "waa too see" (ha ha) but if you let that inside pitch get up on you it will jam you. What you need is TEE work. Put you tee on the inside corner of the plate about 6" in front of the plate and set up at the plate like you normally do and practice hitting it. Remember it will hit the net to your back side. This is normal being it's inside and out in front. Remember "TEE" work is the most important work you can do for hitting. The Pro's hit approx.300-500 balls a day off the tee, practicing there motion and when they get up to hit in a game they just think about "SEEING" the ball and let muscle memory do the rest. Good Luck !!!
quote:Originally posted by micmeister:
... maybe we believe the same thing just explain it differently. I think maybe 18" in front of your body. Is that what you're saying?
Thanks for clarifying. I should have been more clear in the original post.
The swing is not exactly the same for inside to outside pitches. There are 7 baseballs butted up (17") that makes up a strike zone. The balls are hit on a diagonal of approximately 10 balls. We all teach to rotate when the heel of the front foot goes down without linear head movement at least until and through contact (then we argue that head movement).
The inside pitch has to be hit in front of the batter. The HANDS will be off the front heel, but the barrel will lead. A hitter (Bonds, etc.) will not get to extension on the inside pitch, but generally will have balance. Like the previous poster said, the hands are kept tight to rotate the barrel into position. That pitch can be launched because the law of conservation of angular motion.
The middle pitch has the hands farther from the body and the player should make square contact with the barrel at a roughly 90 degree angle to the feet. The player should get to extension (out front not at contact). At contact the arms are with a bent "L". The player should also maintain balance in the swing.
The outside pitch is hit deeper on the diagonal and the player should get to extension, but the extension point is not necessarily totally out front, but in relation to the contact. Rotation of the back foot doesn't usually occur as with middle or inside pitches, but can occur late with extension. Often the hitter looks like the back foot just drags. (Unlike the inside pitch). Many major league hitters walk out of this swing because balance is difficult. The hands are roughly in the same place on all three pitch lanes -- off the front heel.
Summary, inside pitch "turn and burn" get the barrel out front and the hands through, balance isn't optional, extension who cares, keep the elbows tight. Middle pitch, square contact, get balance and extension. Outside pitch, extension a must but balance optional. Balls are hit on a diagonal, the faster the hitter swings the more it looks like what I described above.
The inside pitch has to be hit in front of the batter. The HANDS will be off the front heel, but the barrel will lead. A hitter (Bonds, etc.) will not get to extension on the inside pitch, but generally will have balance. Like the previous poster said, the hands are kept tight to rotate the barrel into position. That pitch can be launched because the law of conservation of angular motion.
The middle pitch has the hands farther from the body and the player should make square contact with the barrel at a roughly 90 degree angle to the feet. The player should get to extension (out front not at contact). At contact the arms are with a bent "L". The player should also maintain balance in the swing.
The outside pitch is hit deeper on the diagonal and the player should get to extension, but the extension point is not necessarily totally out front, but in relation to the contact. Rotation of the back foot doesn't usually occur as with middle or inside pitches, but can occur late with extension. Often the hitter looks like the back foot just drags. (Unlike the inside pitch). Many major league hitters walk out of this swing because balance is difficult. The hands are roughly in the same place on all three pitch lanes -- off the front heel.
Summary, inside pitch "turn and burn" get the barrel out front and the hands through, balance isn't optional, extension who cares, keep the elbows tight. Middle pitch, square contact, get balance and extension. Outside pitch, extension a must but balance optional. Balls are hit on a diagonal, the faster the hitter swings the more it looks like what I described above.
U of K's John Cohen explains it as energy in direction of the back knee. I've always explained it as contact with hands in front of belly button. I would want extension through the ball no matter where I hit it unless I was fighting the pitch off or just trying to put it in play. Like you say, contact is with bent arms and extend through the ball. This is was causes spin on the ball IMO not a downward direction of the swing. If you hit above the center of the ball, you get top spin. If you hit below center, you will get back spin, just like shooting pool.quote:Originally posted by baseballpapa:
The swing is not exactly the same for inside to outside pitches. There are 7 baseballs butted up (17") that makes up a strike zone. The balls are hit on a diagonal of approximately 10 balls. We all teach to rotate when the heel of the front foot goes down without linear head movement at least until and through contact (then we argue that head movement).
The inside pitch has to be hit in front of the batter. The HANDS will be off the front heel, but the barrel will lead. A hitter (Bonds, etc.) will not get to extension on the inside pitch, but generally will have balance. Like the previous poster said, the hands are kept tight to rotate the barrel into position. That pitch can be launched because the law of conservation of angular motion.
The middle pitch has the hands farther from the body and the player should make square contact with the barrel at a roughly 90 degree angle to the feet. The player should get to extension (out front not at contact). At contact the arms are with a bent "L". The player should also maintain balance in the swing.
The outside pitch is hit deeper on the diagonal and the player should get to extension, but the extension point is not necessarily totally out front, but in relation to the contact. Rotation of the back foot doesn't usually occur as with middle or inside pitches, but can occur late with extension. Often the hitter looks like the back foot just drags. (Unlike the inside pitch). Many major league hitters walk out of this swing because balance is difficult. The hands are roughly in the same place on all three pitch lanes -- off the front heel.
Summary, inside pitch "turn and burn" get the barrel out front and the hands through, balance isn't optional, extension who cares, keep the elbows tight. Middle pitch, square contact, get balance and extension. Outside pitch, extension a must but balance optional. Balls are hit on a diagonal, the faster the hitter swings the more it looks like what I described above.
i have trouble hitting this pitch too, but whenever i do hit it, it's cuz i extended my arms and got in front of the pitch. right down the third base line like it should be baby!
On the inside pitch you want to make contact about 6"-10" out in front of your front hip and yes keep those hands inside and go with it. If it's inside you will hit it to your pull side. The Pro's set a tee approx. 6"-10" in front of their front hip on the inside of the plate and practice and practice and practice. When you hit it don't get frustated that the ball is hitting the net to your pull side because it should hit it about 15'-20' in front of you. Also remember keep those hands inside and tight to the body.
