Any help on picking up pitchers real points faster? I have been having a little trouble lately hitting off-speed stuff.
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Work is about the only way to get better at pitch recognition. You can do hitting off a machine, soft toss, all types of different drills. But, for pitch recognition, I like live hitting against a pitcher that will be throwing changes or breaking pitches. Another good one is going to the pen while a pitcher is working and stand in there and track his different pitches and visualize yourself swinging and making contact. The more you see off speed stuff, the better you should become at making contact on them.
Two other thoughts.
First, when was the last time you had an eye exam? It is not unusual for high school age kids to have their prescription change in conjunction with their overall growth and physical maturity. Picking up the spin on a breaking pitch, for example, is a lot easier if you're 20/15 than if you're 20/40, but you may not otherwise notice being 20/40 much. An optometrist can tell you quickly enough, though, if your vision is less than perfect.
Secondly, if you have a "long swing" and are compensating by having to start your swing earlier, you may be committing to the pitch before you have a real chance to tell whether it's off speed. Working on a compact stroke will allow you to wait longer before committing, and that improves pitch recognition, too.
After that, it's a matter of getting the reps so that it comes more automatically to you.
First, when was the last time you had an eye exam? It is not unusual for high school age kids to have their prescription change in conjunction with their overall growth and physical maturity. Picking up the spin on a breaking pitch, for example, is a lot easier if you're 20/15 than if you're 20/40, but you may not otherwise notice being 20/40 much. An optometrist can tell you quickly enough, though, if your vision is less than perfect.
Secondly, if you have a "long swing" and are compensating by having to start your swing earlier, you may be committing to the pitch before you have a real chance to tell whether it's off speed. Working on a compact stroke will allow you to wait longer before committing, and that improves pitch recognition, too.
After that, it's a matter of getting the reps so that it comes more automatically to you.
the next...1:
Some additional random thoughts.
Are you watching the pitcher warm up every inning [especially the first] Often times he will throw all his pitches in the first warmup. Watch carefully to see if he tips off the curve ball with a slightly different arm angle, a certain turn of his lead foot, etc.
Can you see the spin/thread rotation on the curve ball as it come out of or somewhere in flight after it leaves his hand? Can you see a split finger pitch [more white than normal] immediately before it leaves his hand. If you are not looking at the hand the micro-second the ball is delivered, that might be the problem. If you are looking and cannot see the curve ball spin at least somewhere in flight then you may have a vision issue as Midlo Dad has suggested. If you see them coming but cannot adjust either to the timing change or the movement of the ball or both, there could be a variety of possible tips to help.
I will mention one I have used for timing issues [but I am not a "hitting coach" other than with my son and a few players I have coached during the years] and, hopefully, others will add more or chirp in that I am wrong. If you have a buddy that can throw a curve ball, have him throw you 10 fast balls in a batting cage followed by 10 curve balls. Swing at every pitch, regardless of location. Don't swing at the off speed pitch until you SEE it is a curve ball. Have him do this three or four times. Ask yourself, how long is the ball in the air [or where is the ball on its trajectory to me] when I can recognize it is off speed or a curve ball. Once you KNOW where that is, then work on adjusting your stance or trigger, hip ****, whatever you use to start your swing so that you provide yourself the opportunity to make the adjustment when you recognize it but still be able to hit the fast ball if you don't recognize the off speed pitch. Widen your stance, shorten your swing, take some movement out of your trigger mechanism, whatever you feel you can do without destroying your fastball swing. Once you get that worked out, practice, practice, practice until you acquire the skill to make the adjustment to the off speed pitch without thinking about it.
If you have not done so already, you might want to read what PGStaff said on this site in the Hitting thread "Question about the mental approach to hitting?", keeping in mind you will only really use this newly dveloped skill when you are in a count where you are NOT looking only for a fastball in your zone.
Good luck next.
Some additional random thoughts.
Are you watching the pitcher warm up every inning [especially the first] Often times he will throw all his pitches in the first warmup. Watch carefully to see if he tips off the curve ball with a slightly different arm angle, a certain turn of his lead foot, etc.
Can you see the spin/thread rotation on the curve ball as it come out of or somewhere in flight after it leaves his hand? Can you see a split finger pitch [more white than normal] immediately before it leaves his hand. If you are not looking at the hand the micro-second the ball is delivered, that might be the problem. If you are looking and cannot see the curve ball spin at least somewhere in flight then you may have a vision issue as Midlo Dad has suggested. If you see them coming but cannot adjust either to the timing change or the movement of the ball or both, there could be a variety of possible tips to help.
I will mention one I have used for timing issues [but I am not a "hitting coach" other than with my son and a few players I have coached during the years] and, hopefully, others will add more or chirp in that I am wrong. If you have a buddy that can throw a curve ball, have him throw you 10 fast balls in a batting cage followed by 10 curve balls. Swing at every pitch, regardless of location. Don't swing at the off speed pitch until you SEE it is a curve ball. Have him do this three or four times. Ask yourself, how long is the ball in the air [or where is the ball on its trajectory to me] when I can recognize it is off speed or a curve ball. Once you KNOW where that is, then work on adjusting your stance or trigger, hip ****, whatever you use to start your swing so that you provide yourself the opportunity to make the adjustment when you recognize it but still be able to hit the fast ball if you don't recognize the off speed pitch. Widen your stance, shorten your swing, take some movement out of your trigger mechanism, whatever you feel you can do without destroying your fastball swing. Once you get that worked out, practice, practice, practice until you acquire the skill to make the adjustment to the off speed pitch without thinking about it.
If you have not done so already, you might want to read what PGStaff said on this site in the Hitting thread "Question about the mental approach to hitting?", keeping in mind you will only really use this newly dveloped skill when you are in a count where you are NOT looking only for a fastball in your zone.
Good luck next.
I think it may be a combo of two things i'm not looking at the exact second of the relase and my vision isnt perfect.
I will be going 2 an eye doctor soon and will work on seeing the ball out of his hand.
I will be going 2 an eye doctor soon and will work on seeing the ball out of his hand.
