Swinging at balls and taking strikes

Search "Teaching - See The Ball Correctly", PGStaff has some nice ideas of how to focus on the ball and how to face the pitcher correctly. The one I liked was about "Tense" and "Relaxed" vision.

Also a drill that has worked well for me is taking tennis balls and coloring them red, blue or nothing. Then have someone front toss to you. The hitter says the color while the ball is in mid air and then swing. This works on vision, reactions, and bat speed.

http://www.amazon.com/Mental-K...cement/dp/1888698381

Green,
It’s a good sign that you use all fields in BP. The pitches you say you struggle with are typical – what most pitchers are trying to accomplish.

Lots of things you can work on to improve...

First, learn your personal strike zone and best pitch type.
For our team, I cut out two cardboard rectangles and make them two different colors. One is about 14” wide by about 18” high (about ¾ of the plate width and from about 3” above the knee to the belly). This is your “less-than-two-strike" zone. Call it something like your “drive” zone or “crush” zone. Hold the bat out over the plate and choose your single favorite pitch location to hit the ball. Getting a second opinion from your coach is a good idea here. This spot should be where you center the Drive Zone cutout. Now, extend it out toward the mound and get a strong visual of your Drive Zone.
example – if you like middle-in, waist high, the inside edge of your Drive Zone cutout may sit just over the inside black portion of the plate (depending on where you stand) and the bottom will be about mid-thigh with the top just above your belly. You will be leaving the outside ¾ and bottom of the strike zone uncovered.

The other cutout is much bigger – about 24” x 28” (width of the plate plus a ball on each side, low knee to chest high). This is your 2-strike zone. Hold this cutout so that the middle is directly in the middle of the actual strike zone. Move this toward the mound and get a strong visual of your 2-strike zone. In games, you will slightly adjust this visual based on that umpire’s zone that day.
Identify from experience what pitch type you hit best (usually fastball).
For all of your BP and live cuts, know the count you are working on and be sure to visualize the appropriate zone.
You can adjust the size/shape of your Drive Zone cutout based on your personal preferences but it must be big enough that you can stay aggressive and small enough that you can do damage to any ball in that zone. Having the specific visual is the key.
Depending on the hitter, we teach our players...
with no strikes - look for their pitch (usually FB) in their Drive Zone.
With one strike - look for any pitch in their Drive Zone.
With two strikes - look to get the bat on the ball on any pitch in the 2-strike zone.

Also, there are many drills we do to improve pitch recognition and selection...

With a BP pitcher throwing from ¾ distance,

First, BP pitcher throws straight and steady speed, randomly working inside or outside. Hitter tries to call out “in” or “out” prior to swing and execute accordingly. Don’t swing at balls more than a ball off the black.

Next, BP pitcher throws, randomly mixing FB and off-speed. Hitter calls out “quick” or “wait” prior to swing and executes accordingly. Don’t swing at balls more than a ball off the black.

Next, BP pitcher mixes everything. Hitter works on “drive zone”, swinging at pitches only in that zone. Then hitter works on 2-strike zone, changing his approach accordingly. Don’t swing at balls more than a ball off the black.

Another drill is to stand behind your pitchers (behind a screen) as they throw their BP’s. Ignore what they indicate they are throwing. Try to read the ball out of the hand and recognize pitch type and whether it is in your zone as early as possible.

The other part of the equation is studying pitch counts and pitcher tendencies. For example, you are much more likely to get FB when pitcher is behind in the count (2-0, 3-1, etc.) and first pitch. Likely breaking balls off the plate when he is ahead. Pitchers will often pitch 3-4-5 guys backwards. Watch pitchers throughout the game and identify what seems to be their out pitch that day. If a guy is having more luck throwing his slider for strikes, this becomes the likely pitch you’ll see when he is behind. Many pitchers will start with FB to get ahead until he sees that opponent will swing at first pitch. The more of these things you learn and pay attention to, the higher your success rate will be at swinging at good pitches.

This is what Branch Rickey had Duke Snider do back in the forties.

Get two friends: a guy who can throw strikes consistently and a catcher (preferably with good strike zone judgment). Stand at the plate without your bat. Have him throw a pitch, listen to the catcher's call, and take note if you disagree.

After a few days, have the same set up, except this time, you call the balls and strikes. The catcher will record his call on a piece of paper. You record yours on a separate piece.

After 10 pitches, stop, and ask to see the catcher's piece of paper. Check for discrepancies.

Finally, after a few days of this, take it to the next level. Perform the drill and call balls and strikes, this time, with location. Have the catcher make his call aloud. Find out if there's any area you have trouble consistently judging, and work on judging pitches in that area.

None of those drills will do any good......

greenmachine, you start off by saying that your, "swing is alright." How do you know? Are you saying that because the results you get in BP are what you want? Does your BP correlate at all to game speed? Do you mix in "at bats" during BP? Do you get any at bats against your pitching staff? Have you thought about asking a friend who is a pitcher to work with you on the side and throw his bullpen to you?

I like a couple of responses which add up to "having a plan" when you enter the box. However, that plan has to be based upon real expectations. For example, if you are looking for a first pitch fastball in and you are in the heart of the lineup, at a lot of levels, you are never going to get that ball. So, you should be looking middle out and gap to gap. I'm not one to preach hitting opposite down the line. How much video do you have of yourself? Do you know what to look for? Well, I could go on and on. This is a start. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by BlueDog:
None of those drills will do any good......

Blue,
Based on some of your past posts, I'd guess you are serious with your statement in spite of the smiley face.
If so, what is your solution for OP?

quote:

greenmachine, you start off by saying that your, "swing is alright." How do you know?

This quote by CoachB25 is your answer.....Highly doubtful his swing is all right, don't ya think?

First of all thanks for the replies. Kevin I looked at that forum and it gave me some ideas. And NDD Ive read that book before but a long time ago, I plan to revisit it. Cabbage dad thanks for the long response and I'll try to stand in on a few bullpens if the pitchers don't mind. I'm not getting a ton of abs so this might help stay sharp.

I said my swing is alright because of good results in bp and in the games when I swing at good pitches to hit. I routinely backspin balls to the back of the cage off the tee and soft toss and hit line drives in bp. Sometimes I do deviate from this swing in the game, and I feel it and know when I do regardless of the results. I'm not talking about when I swing at a good pitch and midgut it because of poor mechanics, I'm talking about chasing pitches out of the zone.

Even if we assume there are mechanical flaws, I don't understand how this would affect my pitch selection. I always had the notion that hitting was half mental and half physical. You need both to be successful. The physical part is the swing mechanics, the mental part is pitch selection/getting a good pitch to hit. I never put much stock into possible overlap--I believe that a kid with a terrible swing can still have good pitch selection and a player with good mechanics can have bad pitch selection.

I am interested in opinions on how the physical and mental can overlap and affect each other.

Perhaps my distinction between physical and mental is just a rationalization for poor game performance.

quote:

Perhaps my distinction between physical and mental is just a rationalization for poor game performance.

Perhaps!

quote:

Originally posted by greenmachine:



Even if we assume there are mechanical flaws, I don't understand how this would affect my pitch selection.

I am interested in opinions on how the physical and mental can overlap and affect each other.

In order for a hitter to execute his plan, he needs to have a swing that can do so.

In order to hit strikes hard, you must first be in an aggressive/ready position mentally and physically.

In order to take balls out of the zone (ex. sliders in the dirt) you must have the ability to shut your aggressive swing off when your eyes tell you the pitch is a "ball".

It sounds to me that you have trouble shutting your swing off. You should evaluate your timing and/or your balance. If you are late getting loaded, your swing will be rushed and out of control with the inability to stop.

If your timing is okay, than maybe your inward rotation during your load is too far. Too much inward rotation leads to a front side that wants to pull off without the ability to stop it.

These swing flaws that you probably have lead to your mental frustrations and lack of confidence. This is where you start to guess. You don't only guess what the pitcher will throw, but you get into a very bad habit of guessing if the pitch will be a ball or a strike.

You don't believe that you can take a slider in the dirt so you predetermine that he will throw you a "ball". When you guess wrong, you end up taking fastballs right down the middle of the plate.

Don't get too discouraged, this "snowball" of frustrations happens to the best of hitters.

Always remember...You're never as bad as you think you are...and you're never as good as you think you are either.

Work on the core fundamentals... 1) See the ball 2) Have good timing 3) Have good balance 4)See the ball

quote:

Even if we assume there are mechanical flaws, I don't understand how this would affect my pitch selection.

I am interested in opinions on how the physical and mental can overlap and affect each other.

The most obvious mental aspect is that hitting in BP has no real repercussion. You can swing at every pitch and still be up. You should be looking to power the ball and come to recognize the location that you power best and most often.

In a game situation, there are repercussions. You can make an out on the first pitch.

Your problem is that you are taking too long to decide if you are going to swing at pitches. Change this to preparing to swing at every pitch and then decide when you are not going to swing.

You can help yourself a bit by bending your back knee as you swing when you recognize a breaking pitch.

"You can't hit and think at the same time." - Yogi Berra

quote:

Originally posted by Quincy:

quote:

Even if we assume there are mechanical flaws, I don't understand how this would affect my pitch selection.

I am interested in opinions on how the physical and mental can overlap and affect each other.

The most obvious mental aspect is that hitting in BP has no real repercussion. You can swing at every pitch and still be up. You should be looking to power the ball and come to recognize the location that you power best and most often.

In a game situation, there are repercussions. You can make an out on the first pitch.

Your problem is that you are taking too long to decide if you are going to swing at pitches. Change this to preparing to swing at every pitch and then decide when you are not going to swing.

You can help yourself a bit by bending your back knee as you swing when you recognize a breaking pitch.

"You can't hit and think at the same time." - Yogi Berra

I agree with this. In BP, swing at pitches that are strikes (regardless of how many times you may get yelled at). Swinging at everything doesn't help you a bit.

I don't think you can bend your back knee quickly enough. You have 2/5 of a second to react and decide to swing. Besides, spine tilt isn't the primary adjustment mechanism. It's the shoulders that do most of the adjustment.

quote:

Originally posted by Quincy:
You can help yourself a bit by bending your back knee as you swing when you recognize a breaking pitch.

Quincy,
Can you expand on this idea and how it may be different than FB?

Grab a helmet and bat then head to the bullpen. Stand in the box as the pitchers pitch and track each one after your trigger (just do this as you normally would in a game). Track each pitch to the mitt and say - type of pitch, ball / strike and in/out/up/down (some sort of location). Have the catcher / coach tell you if they agree or disagree. Close pitches you can say something like "2-strike" so you can start determining when you need to expand your zone a little on something close.

quote:

Quincy,
Can you expand on this idea and how it may be different than FB?

A fast ball will not usually drop to the extent that a breaking pitch will.

Most batters will be in mid-swing when they realize that they've gotten a visit from Uncle Charley.They continue their swing over the ball making little or no adjustment.

If they bend their back knee when the bell rings. they will have lowered the aim at the ball.

This will help if you are of the 'extension to contact' school of thought. More relaxed adjustable swing.

This is why forearm and wrist strength are so important. It provides the strength to check your swing once you have begun to commit.

What is the connection between a hitter's physical movements in his swing and his mental decision to swing or not swing?

I believe head movement can mess with vision if it is large movement, but I don't believe that is a problem because I "see" the ball ok. I can tell you after the fact if it was a ball or strike, but that does not mean that I will swing at the strikes and take the balls.

I recently switched to an approach of just looking straight fastball all of the time. I think my previous problem of taking fastball strikes was because I was "in between" a fb and offspeed and the fastball would get by me before I could pull the trigger. I did have a little success with this, even adjusting to a RH slider to hit it well. I've struck out a couple more times on fastballs up and I still k'd vs. a lefty, taking two LH curveballs for strikes using the "fastball approach."

Just trying to figure it out.

quote:

my pitch selection is absolutely terrible.

"What is the connection between a hitter's physical movements in his swing and his mental decision to swing"

"hitter's physical movements in his swing" = time required to execute swing

"mental decision to swing" = swing time + decision > = < time pitch is in flight

Recognize pitch location you favor
Be prepared to hit every pitch
Think Fastball every pitch
Adjust to off speed pitches
Don't swing at pitches you have to raise your head to see.

quote:

I recently switched to an approach of just looking straight fastball all of the time. I think my previous problem of taking fastball strikes was because I was "in between" a fb and offspeed and the fastball would get by me before I could pull the trigger. I did have a little success with this, even adjusting to a RH slider to hit it well. I've struck out a couple more times on fastballs up and I still k'd vs. a lefty, taking two LH curveballs for strikes using the "fastball approach."

That is your answer, assuming your mechanics are in check. Sounds like you had a hitting bug (confidence parasite) that hopefully you have displaced.

By the way, just because you "think" you are using your BP mechanics when you are facing live pitching, doesn't mean it is so!

Video your game AB's to see what you are really doing versus what you "think" you are doing.

Greenmachine - Agree with Prime 9, at least I expect that is part of the problem. I suggest that you get a copy of the Q2 audio that Steve Springer has made. Several MLB hitters on down to high school players listen to it regularly. It is not "the" solution, but can be a lot of help. Good luck.

http://qualityatbats.com/