I bat right handed, I want to learn to bat left handed. When I bat left handed, all I can really do is just make contact. Anyone have any good site or their own tips and drills for switch hitting.
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Hey rhbaseball,
Are you right or left eye dominant?
Shep
Are you right or left eye dominant?
Shep
To be honest, I don't know. Is their any way to find out?
With your hands out in front of you make a triangle by putting the tips of your thumbs and forefingers together, the back of your hands facing you. Look through the triangle and focus on a small distant object. Now close one eye, then open it and close the other. You should only be able to see the object with one eye or the other, and that is your dominant eye.
rmode is correct
If your dominent eye is the left eye, you are a RHH by sight.
If your dominent eye is the righteye, you are a LHH by sight.
If you can't tell, keep practicing as LHH but make sure you do so against live-pitching if your really serious about it.
Shep Cares
If your dominent eye is the left eye, you are a RHH by sight.
If your dominent eye is the righteye, you are a LHH by sight.
If you can't tell, keep practicing as LHH but make sure you do so against live-pitching if your really serious about it.
Shep Cares
rhbaseball,
I would ask you first, what is your motivation for doing it? Second, What is your commitment to work? I have seen so many good hitters water down their skills by doing the switch hitting experiment. In most cases I have found(I have been an instructor for ten years) that a player is better off to really work on their strong side rather than switch hitting. It's the Jack of all trades, master of none philosophy.
That being said, if you really want to do it this is the formula that I suggest. First of all, take the amount of time EVERY DAY that you are currently swinging your bat and DOUBLE it. Maybe even MORE than double it(notice I said EVERY DAY). Don't forget, it has taken your whole playing career to build your strong side so I wouldn't expect quick miracles with your weak side. Now, begin with your feet. Strides and balance are the footings for this new "building" you are constructing so build it strong. Thousands of thoughtful repetitions will build a base you can trust. Keep the stride short and straight, start relatively wide because you will need extra stability because many "new lefties" show a greater resemblance to Bambi than Barry Bonds.
Next, swing, swing, swing, swing, and swing some more. All of the aforementioned swings should include visualizations of your successfully executed at bats. Use the greatest tool any of us has, your Brain. See yourself being successful and your body will begin to follow. There are numerous hitting drills you can use to build your new swing so pick a few favorites and bounce back and fourth between your right and left sides. I personally switched every ten swings or maybe less. I found that I was better off with both sides if I didn't settle in too long with either.
Don't be in too big a hurry to "go live" with your new swing. Give it lots of dry swings, tee work, and flips before going live. Think about it as a new sidewalk that has just been poured, you can't walk on it right away even though it looks nice.
One last thought, the human body learns best with frequent smaller workouts than one or two really long ones. Just like eating, don't stuff yourself, lots of small meals is a much better plan.
Good Luck!!!
I would ask you first, what is your motivation for doing it? Second, What is your commitment to work? I have seen so many good hitters water down their skills by doing the switch hitting experiment. In most cases I have found(I have been an instructor for ten years) that a player is better off to really work on their strong side rather than switch hitting. It's the Jack of all trades, master of none philosophy.
That being said, if you really want to do it this is the formula that I suggest. First of all, take the amount of time EVERY DAY that you are currently swinging your bat and DOUBLE it. Maybe even MORE than double it(notice I said EVERY DAY). Don't forget, it has taken your whole playing career to build your strong side so I wouldn't expect quick miracles with your weak side. Now, begin with your feet. Strides and balance are the footings for this new "building" you are constructing so build it strong. Thousands of thoughtful repetitions will build a base you can trust. Keep the stride short and straight, start relatively wide because you will need extra stability because many "new lefties" show a greater resemblance to Bambi than Barry Bonds.
Next, swing, swing, swing, swing, and swing some more. All of the aforementioned swings should include visualizations of your successfully executed at bats. Use the greatest tool any of us has, your Brain. See yourself being successful and your body will begin to follow. There are numerous hitting drills you can use to build your new swing so pick a few favorites and bounce back and fourth between your right and left sides. I personally switched every ten swings or maybe less. I found that I was better off with both sides if I didn't settle in too long with either.
Don't be in too big a hurry to "go live" with your new swing. Give it lots of dry swings, tee work, and flips before going live. Think about it as a new sidewalk that has just been poured, you can't walk on it right away even though it looks nice.
One last thought, the human body learns best with frequent smaller workouts than one or two really long ones. Just like eating, don't stuff yourself, lots of small meals is a much better plan.
Good Luck!!!
