Pulling the ball

There aren't fixes.....Just good technique....Find one of the few who can teach it and learn from them......

nd943

Sounds like you have developed an inside-out swing and need to work on technique in tee area.

Set tee up out front, in relation to hitting stance, in order to cover middle to inside half of plate by making contact out front. Practice hitting many inside pitches with tee in this position out front instead of deep in hitting zone. This will help you with pulling middle to inside pitches to left side.

Do this for a week or so and get back to us for more suggestions. Bluedog is right about finding someone who can teach technique as well.

Peace, Shep

Gauging the fact that you are a Northern batter, you probably have developed the stance where your shoulders are pointing at either second base or the second baseman.

This is a productive stance in the majority of situations as it allows good sight on an outside pitch. Hitting the ball from the middle right will get you base hits, advance runners get you more RBI.

If you really want to change where you hit the ball, point your shoulders at the shortstop or more left of where they are currently pointing.

quote:

Gauging the fact that you are a Northern batter, you probably have developed the stance where your shoulders are pointing at either second base or the second baseman.

This is a productive stance in the majority of situations as it allows good sight on an outside pitch. Hitting the ball from the middle right will get you base hits, advance runners get you more RBI.

If you really want to change where you hit the ball, point your shoulders at the shortstop or more left of where they are currently pointing.

Point your feet to the throwing arm of the pitcher. Close your shoulders down to right of the pitcher. Put the bat barrel over the top of helmet with hands cocked. Coil you hips and keep the barrel loaded over the helmet until toe touch.

Put a ball on a tee with laces facing backwards. Using the above set up try to hit the inside seam back through the box and to RC.

This is the better set up to have gap to gap power and still pull the ball too.

Feet right of target line ( closed) reduces the x-angle , takes the shoulder out of the pull side and reduces power all together

Simple fact

Regardless of being in the Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, South etc( BOBO what the heck does that matter) many good HS hitters are not strong enough physically or quick enough to turn on inside pitches--this will happen as they mature physically and develop the natural strength and quickness to turn on pitches.

I have seen many good HS hitters who made their living driving the ball to right center consistently-- after a few years in college as they matured physically, all of sudden you see them spraying hits to all parts of the field.

Some things take time, not instruction, and if you are successful at the HS level doing what you are doing why mess with it.

Even in the bigs many hitters are not "pull" hitters-- Clemente is a perfect example--his strength was from CF to right--rarely did he pull-- if it aint broke do not try to fix it--- some times with all the "instructors" the game gets too complicated.

Just play the game and have fun--do not try to make it something it isnt for a young player--HS hitters cannot do what MLB hitters do

Kids learn different things from region to region.

In the Land of the Tee, kids do not drive the low inside pitch over the fence.

In the Northeast. kids are blown away by the high heat while they can usually hit a curve ball.

There are nuances.

BOBO

You are so off base it is comical--- where do you get your information-- do you dream this all up at night after you take your meds?

Nuances --smuances by butt--there are not too many HS curveballs to worry about-- kids hit the heater


Was at one of the "Northeast" games last night saw a 90 plus heater go out twice the last one winning the game in extra innings--

Good stuff buster !

Some great advice. Without having seen you swing for several pitches, I'd like to ask you if you "block off" your back leg. I've seen this trait more and more. The hips don't get through, the back leg "buckles" till the side of the backfoot actually drags, and the hands seem slow. Hitters that can't rotate their hips through on or slightly before toe touch often can't get "on time" and so, can't pull the ball. Just a thought on the subject.

CoachB25, I agree.....Too many hitters are taught to keep the weight back.....Takes away power and slows the swing down....

For some reason many coaches think the way to hit offspeed pitches is to stay back....This encourages sitting on the back leg.....Not the way to do it, at all....

Bluedog, we use the phrase stay back but should and more often do use the phrase, "be on time." I agree that if you don't demonstrate what you mean, some will think that you shift back and place all of the weight over that back leg. The results are what this young man describes and what you explained.

Knowing and understanding the regional nuances of batters will make your pitchers far more effective when playing outside of the northeast or cold weather regions.

BOBO

You are lost again-- and please stop downing the Northeast because you are all wet and that can be chilly up here even in early May

You obvioudsly lack understanding of the different 'brands' of baseball played from place to place.

The northeast plays one 'brand' or style of baseball while other areas play other styles.

I have played with and against players from many states and countries and have noticed the differences in how the game is played in each.

Your main experience seems to be in the northeast so you may not have the experience of these different styles to be able to understand what I am saying.

BOBO

We play enough teams from the "warm climes" to know what I speak of--- you are still way off base in your thinking and I dont care where you played or who you played against

I fully undertand what you are saying and you are all wet!!!


Also keep in mind that the trees you call foundation may have worms eating them from the inside out--that means they will fall very shortly

Do not under-estimate what we do here in the Northeast?

You probably haven't won against many warm climate teams.

The northeast style plays right into the strengths of southern and western baseball.

BOBO

Bring one of your "warm clime" teams up to our Warwick tournament and see what happens--- I have a spot for your team

Obviously you know nothing about the northern teams, including ours, and the northern teams success--

Bobo--you are so far out of the field you cant see the game

northeast style !!!!!!-- baseball is baseball--
You are making me laugh so hard my pants are getting wet !!!1

Might be that you are just incontinent.

Try DEPENDS.

When you guys are down at some of the WWBA events in Georgia and Florida and you dominate against warm climate teams, I'll grant you some credibility outside of the northeast.

Or you can mention some of the warm weather teams that you have defeated for championships.

I don't mind you disagreeing with me on this issue because your scope of the game is rather limited.

BOBO

Your true personality finally comes out !!!! again check the records of the Northeast teams in the South-- PG can attest to it since you brought their events into it- and it isnt all about "championships" either something you might not know anything about

No need to debate with you any longer--I hear the Beatles sdinging "Fool on the Hill"

I have no need to debate with you BOBO any further because I think you are very limited in your so called "knowledge"-- and can we use the term "biased" ?

Bring a team up here sir and we can settle it on the field !!!! I dont think you have the ability nor the guts

By the way --your profile tells me nothjing about you--what and who are you--what is your background that gives you the right to debase nothern baseball like you do

And by the way my son played in the warm climes at New Mexico State so I do know a "little bit"
about what I speak of

Do you homework before you step into the water next time!!!

Yea Yea Yea

It's not complacent or content, it's more like the level of instruction get's too advanced for some so these contradictory statements are just their strategy of cowering away

Find it kinda hilarious reading all the posts by TR in all the pro threads of late then reading this last post in the mental aspect thread about keeping it at 13-14 yr old levels. Makes me laugh, in fact>
Your too much...Boss

No pun just fun. peace, Shep

It's nice that the Beatles recorded a song that you can identify with.

I am not biased. I am originally from the northeast.

I came down to Florida noticing the weaknesses of the game they play and wondered why teams from New York in particular would usually be outclassed by them.

After seeing a few games, I saw that the New York teams would try to play power pitcher to power hitter.

Common sense dictates that you don't throw fast balls to a good fast ball hitter.

I look back to the glory years of Power Memorial and noticed that they relied on high heat power pitchers that most batters were intimidated by.

As you mentioned in one post previous, your long suit is adminstration. Baseball strategy is another game altogether.

Leave it to your coaches.

quote:

Common sense dictates that you don't throw fast balls to a good fast ball hitter.

A well spotted FB is the best pitch in the game, period. Always was and always will be. FB's are thrown to good FB hitters everywhere and at every level!

BOBO

Apparently you havent seen many games we or any Northeast teams have played in the south-- you truly make me laugh--

You make a judgement regarding what I do and do not know--you are again totally and unequivacally wrong--what do you know about what I know or dont know regarding baseball strategy?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!!!!

It makes me laugh how all you cyberspace "experts" know so much about every one when you guys can't even fill out info on a profile without trying to be funny and tell nobody nothing

POWER MEMORIAL-- they were a basketball school--the home of LEW ALCINDOR back in the 60's

Final note --if your fastball is your best pitch you use it when needed--with proper location you outduel the batter

TRhit, shouldn't you be posting on the threads about administration duties?.....You said a long time ago that was your area of expertise....I believed you then, and still do......

BD

I am debating with BOBO regarding Northern players and Southern players--- does he need help from Your Supreme Inaneness ?? He wont even take the challenge---

By the way BD--you are just like BOBO--no info for anyone other than downing everyone

TR

Seems like you soiled another DEPENDS.

Power Memorial was also a baseball school. Being CHSAA instead of PSAL they got less recognition in the city. But I guess you don't know that.

I can tell what you know and are not familiar with by your posts. Some are informational and others are recreational banter.

The line about facing the best competition is an excuse losers use when they have been eliminated from championship contention.

Try reading what I type instead of reading into it.

There is an old saying that if a ball player cannot hit a fast ball then they can't hit anything.

High heat is a pitcher's pitch. A good hitter will lay off and wait for a hitters pitch.

Good fast ball hitters should be fed a steady diet of breaking balls. Baseball 101

Well
I certainly am glad that we are still busy helping this young man with his hitting question.

Blue Dog,

Please give the kid some advice on how to hit the proper way and how to hit a curve ball.
Players/Coaches post here to find help so please help the kid. Thanks.

COACHBLU25:

I totally agree with your last post. Let us spend our time, expertise and finger tappng skills on advice; not on reprimands. That said, I think you gave the best answer for this young hitter in your first post. However, so it won't get lost in the you're stupid no you're stupid posts and FOR EMPHASIS, I will post it slightly differently.

nd943:

Hitting is a question of timing. You need to generate bat speed quicker to hit the inside pitch to [for you] left field. Hitters that can't rotate their hips quickly through the hitting zone so they hit the inside pitch with the meat of the bat slightly out in front of home plate will not be consistently successful in pulling that pitch. Tee work will help with that.

Good luck.

TW344

Not being able to pull the ball has nothing to do with where you are from. Ive seen a ton of kids from up North at WWB and other events that had no problem pulling an inside pitch. This is an individual situation and thats all. Maybe this young man has spent so much time and effort learning how to go the other way that he has created a swing that only allows him to do just that. Instead of it being a situational swing depending on where the ball is thrown it has become his swing period. The swing does not change depending on where the ball is pitched its when you swing that changes. The fact is the better the pitching you face ie great velocity with good off speed command the more your faults will find you. Hitting an inside fastball should be purely a reactionary swing. Middle and away should be where you controll your emotions and look to hit it where it is pitched.

As great a hitter as Clemente was he rarely pulled the ball--his strength was from left center to right center

nd943 wrote :

"I honestly think I have perfected that. I NEVER try to pull an outside pitch and usually hit an outside pitch to the right side of the field (I'm right handed). The one problem is that i hit almost everything to the right side. I really struggle to pull the ball. I'm usually late on inside pitches and foul them off or hit a blooper to right."

I would bet gumdrops to Goobers that his shoulders are in a line with the second base position. This would make the outside pitch fat and easy to hit. The inside pitch would have to travel deeper to meet his swing zone causing the late swing.

I would also imagine that his favorite pitch to line the other way is the low outside corner pitch.

He just has to change his position in the box. (But this stance will make him a more productive hitter)

Kids from different areas have been taught to make contact over the plate instead of out in front of the plate.

In other places, tee ball does not allow a kid to develop a low ball hitting swing. If there is dip in the swing, the kid is obliged to level the swing.

In my days of playing in the Northeast, high and tight pitches were usually cause for some discussion. Pitchers tried to emulate the pros by throwing low fast balls and breaking balls that would drop naturally.

Today, especially in the three season areas, fastballs are king. Control means little because most poor hitters will chase the high heat.

I always look back to Nolan Ryan on the Mets. National League hitters were low ball hitters and didn't chase the high stuff. Ryan averaged about a walk per strike out{BB 344 - K's 493}. American League hitters would chase the high heat and made Ryan a star.

I always get a good laugh at the pro ballplayers who swing at pitches head high or higher.