Switch Hitting

Walk up to the plate and get on the wrong side and do all of the things you would do on the right side.

Actually if you are just learning - hit exclusively from the left side until you feel comfortable hitting there. Start with lots of T work, and then progress to live BP, and then to games.

A little off topic but...I'm not sure I'm on board with the whole switch hitting thing. I understand it is coveted by some, however, I think some data has shown the following: That since a hitter is naturally better from a specific side, the batter would have more success hitting from his natural side 100% of the time, rather than switching (based on the pitcher). JMO.

Not what I was talking about, but found this article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/...kjian_tim&id=5524029

Thanks, excellent article. Always enjoy Kurkjian.

Is it unwise to try and keep one's skills hitting right handed against a right handed hitter? There are so few left handed pitchers we face. Some coaches are ok with it but others are not.

I am with 2013 Dad. Not sure I am onboard with the whole switch hitting thing unless you are a burner with little power. In that case like the article states with Ray Durham, those 20-30 infield hits you leg out from the left side every year is the difference from making it and staying in the Majors to never getting a shot, so for that particular style of player it could be the difference in playing and advancing at any level and not.

I think kids do see more left handed pitchers nowadays as every father of a lefthander will give pitching a try based on a lot of beliefs and often times myths. However if your kid is righthanded and switch hitting he is still going to get a larger percentage of ABs from the left side or their naturally weaker side.

Backstop Jr. started out hitting from leftside until about 12. As he got older and bigger we started to see a lack of power for a kid his size and slowly started working back to his dominant side. Now hits exclusively right handed and is in a much better position to help his team at the plate.

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Originally posted by BOF: Start with lots of T work, and then progress to live BP, and then to games.

Great advice.

My son got beaned a few years ago hitting from the right side, struggled with some vision issues and switched to hitting from the left side almost exclusively. He did (and has done) pretty well, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are willing to bite the bullet and hit from your weak side (obviously with less success) facing live pitching. I would guess a lot of hitters change their minds when they have the first couple 0-fers. There is going to be a learning curve.

Also, this means that you more than double the amount of hitting work you would otherwise do.

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Also, this means that you more than double the amount of hitting work you would otherwise do.

Yes. IMO, all the more reason to stay on natural side. Imagine the improvement on the natural side if the time spent on the oppo side was spent on the natural side. (of course, this does not necessarily apply to OBC as an injury is involved).

I agree with focusing all your efforts to the natural side. There are very few truly ambidextrous athletes that can equally function right and left handed.

It makes even less sense for a right-hander to switch and spend the majority of his AB's on his weaker side. IMO