Posted by: Dave A () on Sat Aug 30 21:14:50 2003

Jack I have seen on the message board that the swing is a slight upercut by the great hitters. I was always taught to focus on the top half of the ball. What do the great hitters focus on when rotating to the ball ? I hope you don't say I see the ball I hit the ball. 90% of the young hitters I have worked with when they swing and miss are under the ball, I have always told them to focus on the top half and it seems to resolve the problem. I guess I am struggling on what to tell those same kids that appear to be under it but yet they are suppose to be swinging up at it.
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> > Regarding focusing on the top half of the ball, you cant do it, and if u do u are wasting some God given talent. Have you faced a 90 mph fastball? I have and the last thing i thought of was seeing the top half of the ball. I wanted to see the ball out of his hand and get a good read. After that, if you have the proper rotational mechanics and recognize what pitch it is you should not focus on the top half of the ball assuming it is possible in anything other than batting practice.
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> > The proper mental approach is "See the ball hit the ball". That is what the great hitters focus on. If they thought "See the top half of the ball, Hit the the top half of the ball" they would not be professionals nor ever drafted.
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> > For proof, how do you recognize and 84 mph slider in the Big Leagues after just facing three straight 95 mph heaters? i can't imagine you seeing the spin of the slider by focusing on the top half of the ball. you might say you never will see and 84 mph slider, be it as it may its still hard for kids to hit 70 mph breaking pitches if they dont recognize it immediately.
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> > And in interviews with great hitter, they all say "See the ball!" not "See the top half" or "See the bottom half" of the ball, which means they are focusing on the whole thing.
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> >.Dave I teach them to focus on seeing the whole ball well,but many kids do swing under the ball,I think that either their sights are just off and they are setting up on the wrong plane or they may have their back side dominating or weakness in the bottom guide hand which allows the barrel to dip too much because the bottom hand can;t keep the barrel in line with the ball.If their sights are off then i well sometimes tell them to swing at the top of the ball or higher till they make contact and then work their vision back to center of the ball.Carlos Delgado and a few others have said when they are really seeing it well they try to aim 1/4 " below center to get lift and back spin.

Someone should do some research on that because i still dont believe it is possible to focus 1/4" below the center of the ball on a 90+ mph fastball, i just dont think it is humanly possible. Pros can say whatever they want and be believed because they got to the show. Maybe mentally saying to yourself "1/4" below the center" before the pitcher starts his motion is arguably what he does, but when that pitch is released, its all reaction time after time, theres no time for focusing 1/4" below the middle of the baseball when Bartolo Colon unloads a 99 mph fastball on you.

Its like pros saying they can see the pitch roll out of the pitchers hands. I tell myself before i get the pitch "Watch it out of his hand" but when i look back at seeing the ball in the at bat i can never recall seeing the finger placement or things pros claim they can see.

If you can see the ball that well, you should be flat out embarassed if you ever missed a pitch in the strike zone. If you can slow the game down that much while facing professional pitchers then you should hit .400 and never be fooled by a curve ball, but everyone gets fooled and no one hits .400, so i think if you hear about it from a MLB player its just a confidence thing, he thinks hes so good on some days he can see everything and anything.

The only other arguable point is that you practice focusing on that point in the cage so it can become somewhat of a "habit". But i still dont think its possible for ure eyes to slow down a ball that is traveling 90+ to be able to see the ball in that description. Its like having compound eyes like a fly.

These are just my opinions from facing 90 mph heat myself and as a current high school player.

And rql, the way ive been taught in hitting is always feel, i dont do drills for my stride and hands etc... i just watch video tape and correct myself based on visualization and feel. Just giving you some backround on me and why i wouldnt know about using the 1/4" below the ball as correcting something, yet it does seem as though it could work from your explanation. In NO WAY am i criticizing your opinions if it sounds like i did, i was just expressing mine.

Dave