Lefties "drop the bat head on it" but righties can't

skipper-

I am a lefty, and I can't really explain the reason why lefties hit the inside pitch so much better. I notice that when the inside pitch comes, my hips open up much faster and I pull it hard. I don't know the situation for righties, but when there's an inside pitch to me it feels different too. I don't actually watch the ball all the way in. I don't know why, it's just instinctual, my eyes don't follow the ball in it's weird. Also, it feels like I can wait longer on those pitches than normal, because my hands explode to the ball much quicker. Again, weird.

Also, though I'm not a typical a power hitter, none of the home runs I've ever hit have been off low, inside pitches. And that dates back to Little League, when the home runs came a lot more frequently than now on a varsity diamond. Most of the home runs are pitches out and over the plate driven to right-center... the inside and low ones I always hit hard, but they are always either line drives or grounders down the line, which isn't a bad thing but nonetheless a curious occurrence.

3 of every 4 pitchers are right handed. Lefties get RHH out with pitches that run away from them and change of speed. Not many make a living throwing inside to RHHs.

RHP get LHH out with stuff that runs away from them and change of speed. Not many RHPs, other than Rivera, make a living throwing inside to LHHs.

As a rule... LHP get LHH out with stuff running in on hands and breaking balls.

As a rule... RHP get RHH out with stuff running in on hands and breaking balls.

LHH (and RHHs) see many more RHP than LHP. Ask yourself if you are hitting the LHP who throws inside or the RHP who throws inside. Different ball game!

Truth is LHP is harder to hit than RHP. You just see and hit against more RHPs. That is why LHHs have an overall advantage.

Thigh high, innner half, is most every hitters joy spot. Right or left handed hitter!

When those RHP have a good running and sinking fastball RHHs hurt their feet and ankles. Same for LHH against good lefty with running sinking fastball, LHHs get the "shoetoe".

The biggest advantage to throwing fastballs inside is to same side hitter. Biggest advantage LHPs have is they are in the minority. If there were an equal number of LH and RH pitchers things would be the same. JMO

trojan--

You beat me to the question. To me, its one of baseball's mysteries. Seriously though, how come lefties can abosulutely crank that pitch?! Well, I sure wish I could switch hit (better, lol). I hope someone has an answer.

It has always seemed to me that lefties tend to hit the low and inside pitch better than righties b/c after the swing, lefties immediately turn to their right to head toward first base. After doing this so many times, lefties tend to get into the habit of beginning their path towards first base, even before they have completed their swing. The righties would be better at hitting this pitch if baseball was played backwards. Just a theory, interested in seeing what everyone thinks.
www.blastbat.com

PG:
I liked a lot of what you say, BUT: I still don't see my RHH kids drop the head of their bat on a pitch from a Lefty ... maybe it's just me and I'm missing it...
Plus, I have my hitters chart (with colored pencils) what pitch they most like to crush and what pitches they find are the hardest to handle. I do it to show to the pitchers so they get a visual, anyway; by and large my RHH like the ball gernerally higher (crotch to belt) and middle to middle half away while my lefties like I've said dig the thigh high inside...

I actually think "C_Pen" has an explanation that makes a bit of sense.

The main thing to remember is this... LHHs and LHPs both have a distinct advantage. That is why they are both in such demand!

LHHs have the giant advantage of seeing RHPs 3 out of every 4 ABs. The same (opposite hand) advantage for the RHH is outweighed by the fact that he only sees LHP 1 out of every 4 ABs.

Most RHH facing a LHP wants the ball on the inner half! Against the RHP the RHH might prefer the ball out over the plate. It's just the way it is! But, surely we've all seen what great RHHs do to thigh high inner half pitches!

I think right handed players who bat left-handed hit the low inside pitch because the bottom hand (right) is dominant. True left-handers probably act like true right-handed hitters -- it depends.

In theory I totally agree with C_Pen. I think its also trained instinctual tendacies. The righty must lean and move toward 1b after a hit. Did you ever turn on an inside pitch and then feel like you couldn't get out of the box fast enough? The lefty instinctually has to turn toward 1b after he hits. Some lefties will open their hips sooner and will look as if they're already on their way up the line. JMHO.

My son bats left, and the same is true for him. Down and in is definitely his joy spot. Don't know why but Cpen seems to be on to something.

Bat slots make the difference.

Put your bat in the vertical slot or splitting helmet and it is in plane to drop on low ball. Flatten you bat and it gets harder because you have to lift the barrel against gravity as you launch and you not as likely to pull the trigger on the low ball

My son is a switch hitter. As a LH hitter he handles the ball down better then up and he hits the ball middle out well. As a RH hitter he handles the ball up better and hits the ball middle in better. Like many left handed hitters the pitch he hits best is down and in, the pitch he struggles with is one on his hands or higher. He throws right handed and since he seems to drop the bat head some times on the pitch up I assume he hits this way because his right hand is dominant. I believe part of this also may be how RH pitchers pitch tend to a left handed lead off type hitter. He sees a lot of pitches down and away and very seldom does he get busted up and in.

compare his bat slots at set up and you will see a difference

Swing: So you're telling me that most lefties have a different bat slot?
3rdG: I have noticed this in both my Left hit/left throw and L/R guys. I usually just tease my righties and tell them they have ugly swings compared to us lefties... but I'm just joking... I tired to set up "real low tee drills" for my righties to get them to whip it like a lefty does... I haven't found the answer yet...
I appreciate all the responses and look forward to more of y'all pitching in your 2 bits.
I'm still interested in any other theories... I

Chipper has two upper body boxes different for RH and LH

What I know for sure is that the more vertical bat slot can go down to the low ball easily. The Pete Rose slot harder but he bends at the waist more to compensate

PGStaff

I'm a little disappointed you beat me to the answer -- I was all excited when i knew it oh well. You are 100 percent correct - for what that's worth.