How to hit the curveball

Think about this one minute: at the HS level how many good curveballs will players see ???

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Originally posted by TRhit:
Think about this one minute: at the HS level how many good curveballs will players see ???

Exactly, much less two or three in one at bat.

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They were told not to swing at curves until two strikes.

RJM,

This is the quote from your original post. Had you said, don't swing at quality borderline curves, I'd be right there with you. The thing is, that's not what you said.

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Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
I'm no expert, but I agree with Deemax. How to hit the curve? Look for a bad one.

Especially at the high school level. Lots of hittable curve balls. Good curves either let them go (with less than 2 strikes) or try to spoil them (with 2 strikes.)

But when that juicy hanger comes floating in there, no matter what the count - punish it!

I think the key to hitting curves is to know you aren't going to get a lot of good wood on the good curve, so don't try to. Just try to spoil the good 2 strike curve.

But recognize the mistake and make the pitcher pay for throwing it.

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Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes:
I think you can get into trouble when you say never swing at a certain type of pitch until you get to two strikes. It can't be that absolute, in my opinion.

A better approach, which I stole from a clinic where ECU's Billy Godwin spoke, was that there are basically two counts- counts with two strikes, and every other count. Until you get to two strikes mentally you're in a 3-1 count looking for something to hit into next week. It doesn't matter what the pitch is....meat fastball, curve ball that just spins, or whatever. But it has to be a pitch you can drive. Of course, you have to have some confidence in your ability to hit with two strikes, but I like the approach in general.

And I would agree with Deemax....nobody hits the good curves. Just tip your cap and hope he can't throw it consistently.

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Originally posted by Doughnutman:
I am well aware that my opinion is in the minority. But how else are you going to learn to hit a good curve? Watching it go by? Give up when it comes and go back to the dugout? If you learn how to hit it, the success rate would go up. I have always believed that hitting a curve ball is a skill just like hitting a fastball. Kids need to work on it and waiting until you have two strikes and then hoping it is a bad one just doesn't make sense to me. If you swing at one and you miss it or foul it off, I would think it would be easier to hit it the second time. I certainly could be wrong but it makes sense to me.

Oh well.

This is exactly what I've been saying. I think you are exactly right!

So basically the concensus is to practice and learn how to hit a good curve in bp,but in games,let good curves go by with less than 2 strikes.If it hangs,crush it regardless of the count.

Use bp practice so that you will be able to hit it when you get a good curve with 2 strikes.

If I am the hitter and the pitcher hangs a fat curveball on the first or second pitch I will be hammering it

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Originally posted by TRhit:
If I am the hitter and the pitcher hangs a fat curveball on the first or second pitch I will be hammering it

I'm with you TR!

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Originally posted by powertoallfields:

quote:

They were told not to swing at curves until two strikes.

RJM,

This is the quote from your original post. Had you said, don't swing at quality borderline curves, I'd be right there with you. The thing is, that's not what you said.

You're getting picky. I thought everyone knows you're supposed to hammer the hanger, which I stated nine hours ago. I guess I was wrong about everyone understanding this. By curve I meant good curve.

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Originally posted by tfox:
So basically the concensus is to practice and learn how to hit a good curve in bp,but in games,let good curves go by with less than 2 strikes.If it hangs,crush it regardless of the count.

Use bp practice so that you will be able to hit it when you get a good curve with 2 strikes.

That's what is taught by good coaches through college ball.

You don't hear a hitter say he wants a pitcher to challenge him with his best breaking stuff so he can hit it out of the park. You will hear a hitter say this about fastballs.

REMINDER: are we not talking HS hitters here?

One step at a time

Through college ball would include high school. Wouldn't you tell a high school hitter to take the quality curve until two strikes, hammer the hanger if he gets one, otherwise sit on the fastball? A good curve is a pitcher's strike. I don't know any coaches who say give in to the pitcher's strike until two strikes.

Chances are in high school most pitchers will hang one before throwing three quality (curve) strikes in an at bat. But given that skill level he probably won't throw three in an at bat. I don't recollect ever seeing three curves in an at bat in high school unless the AB was extended by fouling off a bunch of two strike pitches.

Let's turn this around. Why would anyone swing at a tough curve with less than two strikes?

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Originally posted by RJM:
Let's turn this around. Why would anyone swing at a tough curve with less than two strikes?

If they are are REALLY good at hitting good curves,but I digress.

Just having a little fun.

Because the pitcher has a great fastball and a great change up and it may be the best chance you have to do some damage. Maybe he got you out last time on an inside/outside curve and you are looking for it. Maybe you need to move the runner over and it is the only pitch he throws you outside and you know you can hit a grounder to the second baseman at the very least. Maybe you aren't comfortable batting with two strikes. Maybe you can't catch up to the fastball and it is the only chance you have to contribute. Maybe you are a location hitter and the curveball is in that location. Maybe you hate the coach and want to irritate him.

Who knows, there are probably many, many more reasons.

Coach calls a hit and run, pitcher tips his pitch, various bunt scenarios, you spent your time on the bench watching the pitcher and decided that you can hit it, he threw 4 of them to you last time because the scouting report says you can't hit them, because you want to move on in baseball and you better know how to hit one, the defense is much weaker on the right side and you want to go oppo, you like to extend your arms and they keep busting you inside, the pitcher got the last 4 guys on curves and you better do something with it, and the last one I can think of, you have spent the last 5-10 years working on and hitting a curve so you have a lot of confidence in your ability to do it.

Doughnutman,

In my opinion, and with all due respect,

When the “Coach calls a hit and run”, the rest of the paragraph (above) doesn’t matter. At 60/90 anyhow.

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...591072852#6591072852

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Because the pitcher has a great fastball and a great change up and it may be the best chance you have to do some damage

If you are facing a pitcher with a good fastball and good change then you swing at good curves then that kid is throwing a no no that day.

He's got a good fastball and good change he's not throwing a curve unless he gets bored.

I just threw out some reasons to hit the curveball with less than 2 strikes. Some(a lot) are far fetched. But they may come up over the course of a season. I just don't like waiting for two strikes to swing at a curve. It gives the pitcher too much of an advantage IMO and takes away a hitters agressiveness. I would rather have my son up to bat thinking that he can drive any pitch that is thrown for a strike. Not, its a curve, don't swing.

Thop, I meant for everthing to be a different scenario. Each comma represents a different situation. Hit and run is probably the number one reason to hit a curveball with less than two strikes.

Sorry Doughnutman. Just trying to help. Good luck to you and your son.

THop

A hitter also must develop an approach that is not fazed by having 2 strikes and still staying with his plan.

It is important to be able to foul off pitchers pitches until he gives you a pitch to hit.

A good hitter should not be overly concerned with having two strikes.

FF

The problem is that with todays kids they do not know how to foul off pitches and protect the strike zone

That was my point TR as an additional piece to what it takes to hit, or in this case hit a hanging curveball. The longer the at bat the more likely a batsman will see a pitcher's mistake.

Everyone (who loves hitters) loves to see a 9 pitch at bat that results in a base hit.

Thanks for all the help. I waited on the curveball and hit a line drive. THanks for all the help.

Power-

I have had a number of players play at OSU over the years... and none were told to leave curve balls alone... that is silly...

RJM-do you know how long it would take the scouting of another D1 school to figure that philosophy out and utilize it... less than one game that is for sure... talk about a tendency....

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Originally posted by Diablo con Huevos:
Power-

I have had a number of players play at OSU over the years... and none were told to leave curve balls alone... that is silly...

RJM-do you know how long it would take the scouting of another D1 school to figure that philosophy out and utilize it... less than one game that is for sure... talk about a tendency....

Thank you! Some folks still have some sanity!

quote:

Originally posted by Diablo con Huevos:
Power-

I have had a number of players play at OSU over the years... and none were told to leave curve balls alone... that is silly...

RJM-do you know how long it would take the scouting of another D1 school to figure that philosophy out and utilize it... less than one game that is for sure... talk about a tendency....

The information came from the father of a player back when Ward was coaching.

Interesting thoughts. Mosts of the posts have some thread of truth to it. For me, the key is recognition of the pitch. Hitting a curveball is not difficult (unless it's just a Hammer that is nasty - not many of those) if you recognize that it is a curveball.

Seeing the ball out of the pitchers hand is key. I am a former college coach and have taught players to soft focus/fine center on the pitchers release point. Also, a curve ball tends to go "up" out of the pitchers hand while a fast ball is more "down" out of the pitchers hand, particularly the average high school pitcher. By recognizing the curveball, it is easier for the hitter to stay back and let the ball travel...and just put the head of the bat on it. I don't thing you "try to go with the pitch" or "wait and swing faster" as others have said -- simply let the ball travel and take a normal, aggressive swing.

Well now I have a question. Is there a good video that will show in slow motion the release of the fast ball versus the curve ball.

Thanks,


Bill

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"wait and swing faster" as others have said -- simply let the ball travel and take a normal, aggressive swing.

I don't think it is a good idea to "wait and swing faster" either. However, if you have quick hands and a quick swing, you have the luxury of allowing the ball to travel and read the pitch. Your "normal, agressive swing" should be "quick" or "fast" at all times. The difference is "when" do you pull the trigger!

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Originally posted by floridafan:

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"wait and swing faster" as others have said -- simply let the ball travel and take a normal, aggressive swing.

I don't think it is a good idea to "wait and swing faster" either. However, if you have quick hands and a quick swing, you have the luxury of allowing the ball to travel and read the pitch. Your "normal, agressive swing" should be "quick" or "fast" at all times. The difference is "when" do you pull the trigger!

Floridafan,

The reason I made the quote above, is that many of the kids I see having a problem hitting the curve ball is because they try to match swing speed with ball speed. When you keep the swing the same as on the fastball, you have a better chance of squaring it up. Focus, swing hard, and think oppo. You may not actually hit oppo, depending on pitch location and timing, but staying on the ball that split second longer does wonders.

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Originally posted by Bill L.:
Well now I have a question. Is there a good video that will show in slow motion the release of the fast ball versus the curve ball.

Thanks,


Bill

If done correctly, the release will be the same, just the position of the hand will change, behind the ball on fastball, on the side on curve ball. It may also appear to go up out of the hand and you should be able to see the spin.

Okay I'm not sure my take on this will go considering I bat left handed and you probably bat right handed, assuming it's a same side curve you have to be ready for a fastball all the time but once you see that red dot on the ball wait, wait, wait, let it get to you and then be quick through it the opposite way if it's an opposite side curve you still have to wait but odds are it's coming into you so the point of contact should be further out in front of the plate so you will swing earlier and try to pull it (unless it's breaking to the outside corner then go oppo).
This is just how I do it, other people may have other takes on it.

Works for me CitrusZilla, I am left-handed.

I believe in the simple approach. Read it, and let it go if it is outside your zone. If it is up, hit it across the street. Low let it go, high let it fly. Knock it out. On all breaking balls.

In the last 2 days my son saw 23 curve balls in 5 at bats. Ouch.

my son's team saw 14 cb's in one inning ...10u
yuck.

Today he hit a curve ball 370 feet. It needed to go 380 feet. He needs to do more push ups.