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17 replies

hitting trouble

T teenpitcher1510+ posts
Hi guys, im writing this to get some help with my hitting (of course)now before I start i want to say that i really dont want this to because a stupid discussion with a bunch of flames at each other. I want good advise (if you have any) and just some helpful answers.

Ok, now primarliy im a pitcher(see name) butI have been working hard on my hitting allot latley. Im going to be playing at eagles view academy this year in jax, Fla and am working on being the number 3 pitcher this year (the 2 infront of me throw 90,and 86 respectavly)but I dont want to be just a every 3rd or 4th day pitcher. I am very good on defense at 1rst base (im lefty) and am a good outfielder as well.

My woes have been at the plate, im pretty strong (195 bench 315 squat) and have power but I just cant generate it into my swing. I never can find anything confertable and therefore just cant build confidence. I hit VERY well in the cage with my dad who throws hard up close so its not speed, I just cant translate it on to the field for some reason. My father tells me that i have a good swing in the cage and swing the bat hard but when I get onto the field I swing like a sissy and seem to bail out on pitches, so in other words I just dont swing the same in a game.

Im not great at finding mistakes and I just cant seem to make adjustments in hitting like I do while pitching. im stumped as to what to do right now and would really welcome some advise from people who know.

thanks a ton-Aaron
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catcher09catcher091,000+ posts
As you can imagine its hard to give advice on hitting with out actually seeing you. I'm going to guess you were probably a good hitter back in the LL days. Anytime my son struggles I have found my best advice to him is go back to basics.

Do tee work
Have one of your buddies pitch to you from the mound
Hate to say it...but see the ball hit the ball and over time .....hit it hard

Enjoy hitting...dont push.

Make sure you are comfortable at the plate and focused.

If you can, see a pro - many times they can see things you cant.

Relax and have some fun!
H HowUbe100+ posts
quote:
Have one of your buddies pitch to you from the mound


teenpitcher,

For what it is worth, the advice catcher gave to you also helped my son. His father spends a great deal of time throwing to him in the cage. I suggested some open field and it really seemed to help him this summer. Of course, it is not always easy to find a practice field these days.

Good luck!
BlueDogBlueDog1,000+ posts
Practice swinging in a cage is mostly worthless, and in many cases harmful....

The reason being, there is no real feedback as to how you are swinging.....As to how you need to improve your body movement while swinging....

Practice does not make perfect......Practice under stress with proper feedback on your body movement does....This rarely happens in a cage.....
catcher09catcher091,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by teenpitcher15:
ok then my question to yall is that how do I get a enviorment were i get put under stress with proper feed back and still get enough cuts? because in a cage i get to swing allot, but im not sure if its even helping like you say.


I may be reading you completely wrong but Im guessing you are a good ball player who is pushing too much. Take as many swings as you can where ever you can and find the "fun" in it. Also practice with a plan - opposite field, up the middle, etc.

You have an advantage, you are also a pitcher and can probably make reasonable guesses on what the pitch is going to be.

You mentioned bailing out - when is the last time you were hit by a pitch - did it hurt, for how long? My son carries those bruises with pride and so should you. Dont back down and seriously, hitting is fun!!!!

All it takes is a couple good hits (even recorded outs) and then it falls together. Then the next time you are HBP or walked you will be upset because you wanted your chance to hit.

If it is mechanics - see a Pro.
H hs_2910+ posts
i was having the same problem but once i hit my first line drive double my problem was fixed. when you bat try and focus on hitting the ball as well as you can. i also picture the pros swing in my head when im on deck. this seems to help.

also what everyone else is telling you is true. try getting a field to practice your hitting because not only is 60 feet different from just 30 but its also alot more intimidating. good luck!
Q Quincy1,000+ posts
From what you describe it sounds like you are good in the cage and in batting practice. In both cases you are swinging at everything so you are always ready.

What happens to some batters is that when they go to the plate, they are looking for a pitch and then deciding to swing. There is usually not enough time for this process.

Try going to the plate and being ready to hit every pitch. This way you will be ready to hit. Your only decision while at bat is to not swing.

Make contact with the ball in front of the plate on your follow through.

Two ways of dealing with 'stepping in the bucket' are 1) stiffening the front leg and 2) stepping into the pitch.

Give these suggestions a try on the ballfield. Chasing the balls on the field is harder than the cage, but you will have a realistic view of what your swing and contact are producing.
Last edited by Quincy
O oldnumber1910+ posts
As many others have said, nobody can really be sure of the best advice to give you without seeing you hit.

That said, I'd consider a couple of things. Swing to make hard contact. Consider that your measure of success instead of the results.

Also, use your pitching knowledge help you as a hitter. You want the hitter to hit your pitch right? Why would you as a hitter his the pitcher's pitch?

As a guideline for this have a program at the plate. With no strikes look for the pitch in a hittable zone. With one strike, widen the zone a bit. With two strikes, protect the plate.

I realize some people would disagree with this philosophy but find what works for you.
Q Quincy1,000+ posts
I always suggest making contact after generating bat speed, thus the follow through.

In general the most productive contact is at approximately 39 degrees. In the follow through after the bat speed is generated, the bat is coming forward usually in a rise to the contact point.

The best contact point that I have found and suggested is right before the plate.

With a smooth swing using this method one allows the bat to be used to its fullest, getting the greatest contact result.

As a point of reference for us guys that have been around a while, think back to that movie "Pride of the Yankees" when the little guy could ring the bell while Lou couldn't.

Some examples
http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting/pro?p=25&w=4&c=4&n=0&m=24&s=0&y=1&z=9&l=0
Last edited by Quincy
O oldnumber1910+ posts
BlueDog,

Thanks for the input. I'll elaborate.

If, for example, you have a kid at the plate who cannot hit an outside pitch well to save his life, why in the world would you have him swing at it with no strikes? Wouldn't he be better positioned to look for a pitch in that count that he can murder, hoping for a mistake? Maybe it is an inside pitch he can kill. Have him look for that because maybe he'll get it and hit that better than grounding out or popping out on an outside strike. (Yes, I know, work with him on hitting the outside pitch).

Why would you have him hacking at anything just so you can sacrifice his at-bat to the gods of aggression?

When you have a strike, widen the zone to middle of the plate or inside. With two strikes, shorten the stroke and make contact.

There's more to it, you have to look at the pitcher, see what they throw in a certain count, etc.

It's not like I came up with this, read Ted Williams' Science of Hitting. I tend to trust his judgement on hitting.

But hey, if there was a perfect method to hitting there'd be no reason for a forum, now would there?
BlueDogBlueDog1,000+ posts
quote:
If, for example, you have a kid at the plate who cannot hit an outside pitch well to save his life,.....


I suppose if you don't have the ability to show this kid how to make a posture correction to hit this pitch, you must pursue other avenues such as you suggest...

But, I would much prefer showing this kid how to hit the pitch....
O oldnumber1910+ posts
BlueDog,

"I suppose if you don't have the ability to show this kid how to make a posture correction to hit this pitch, you must pursue other avenues such as you suggest..."

Perhaps you missed this part of the post:

"...popping out on an outside strike. (Yes, I know, work with him on hitting the outside pitch)".

Look, of course you teach the kid how to hit the outside pitch. As my post suggests you don't ignore that weakness in his game.

However, the batter's box in a live game is not the place to make the adjustment. All I'm really saying is that a batter should hit his pitch when the count is heavily in his favor instead of swinging at a tough pitch merely because it is a strike.

As Dimitri Young told Delmon when asked how to hit a good splitter - He said you don't. You lay off it till you have to swing at it.

Let's close it out here. Not because I'm right, you're right or we're both wrong. Because it just isn't productive.

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