Posted by: Shawn (Whitelion_01@hotmail.com) on Fri Aug 22 18:02:33 2003

Don't discredit all the golfers out there. There is a reason there is "par" for a course. Because most people can't shoot par. If golf was easy, we'd all be shooting par.

I agree that timing is important. It is something that is developed. It is a learned behavior from consistancy (hand eye cooridnation).

All major league players and minor league players have the timing skills to hit the ball consistantly. Some do not have the reaction time to hit the high heat or the inside heat 95+ mph. Some cannot guestimate accurately enough where a curveball will end up.

You pretty much made my arguement for me in your last post. You hit it on the head. However, it is more accurately described as concentration. Much of concentration can be attributed to sheer willpower and can be trained. Most people who are easily fooled on pitches often(strike out, or hit weak grounders, pop outs, etc.)because they aren't concentrating enough.


rs out there. > >
> > I agree with Scott.
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> > Good mechanics lead to seeing the ball better, reacting quicker, and consistancy. Consistancy is key for developing good timing.
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> Dont get me wrong. I believe mechanics are important and will give you confidence and consistancy at the plate. ..all i am saying is that it is only may be 50 % of hitting. The other 50 % is a combination of intangibles or ellusive variables like working the count, pitch selection, knowing the pitcher, etc. Which i would go on record to say that they are a part of a whole called timing. You cant hit with mechanics only. If it was like that, anybody that worked on mechanics and become near perfect will be a successfull hitter. Basically everybody. This is not golf, thank god. A golfer has ball still and just applies his best mechanics to it. No intangibles there.
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> A big part of hitting is pitch selection, another word for in-depth perception. That means recognizing a strike early and putting your bat in the path of the ball.
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> Another big part is the count. In 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, you count on a fastball and you know you have to accelerate the bat which makes your timing the better. However, if for some reason, the pitcher is confident with his curve ball, he will throw it to you, in which case you will be a sure out, because your timing will be off, your bat head will be way too fast for off speed pitch, and you will either miss it or be way too early and hit a chopper. however When you are batting against the count you can expect pitches in the outside corner, fast balls, sliders, curve balls, so you have to slow down your swing and wait on the ball to get deep and bat to right field. I usually stride closed against the count to bat to right field. Now, if for some reason, the pitcher is confident with his fast ball and thinks he can jam you with inside heat, he probably will throw it to you right there, specially if you are batting 7, or 8 th in the line up. He knows you are not the best hitter in the team. If you stride closed and get that inside heat, there is no way in the world(rotational, non-rotational, linear, etc) you are going to hit that in-coming double deuce. Why? Becuase the pitcher off-set your timing. And it all comes down to timing. On the other hand if he gave you the junk pitch outside which you were counting on from the beginning, then you might have a chance. Like i have said here before, timing is where the money, the productivity and average is. Give me a great timer and i will show you a great hitter. A guy that can make the intuitive adjustments to pitches in and out in time to hit them well, no matter rotational or linear, he will hit well. Granted rotational will buy you time because you are hitting the ball deeper in the zone.
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> Thanks for all your responses.
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> toti
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