Posted by: Teacherman () on Tue May 6 20:53:27 2003

I have not yet read or heard of a lucid approach to adjusting swing timing or teaching how to hit the off speed pitch. Statements such as “stay back” or “wait longer” or “keep you hands back longer” just don’t make much sense to me as a teaching tool. Not swinging at the curve works in Little League and maybe through High School ..but doesn’t cut it at the Collegiate or Pro levels. Some one said in the April discussions that maybe some “new adjustment on the fly” is what may be needed. So…hitting guru’s what do we teach?

I may have what you've been looking for.

Tell your hitters to time the ball to a spot (where a batting T would be if it was there). The biggest mistake I find is that young hitters swing at "where the ball is" when they make their decision to swing, not where it will be. This technique gets them way out front. It costs them the last 3-6 feet of ball travel and it makes them feel late, even though they are early. My oldest son calls it "swinging where he's looking" instead of where the ball will be when contacted.

I find it difficult to time a pitch, but I find it much easier to time a pitch to a spot. And, then my goal is to get the barrel to the spot at the same time as the ball. Swining where you're looking is the kiss of death.