Posted by: Coach C () on Sun Sep 7 13:34:56 2003

I do agree with what you're saying, but then my thinking was that if you cant hit the fast ones, then no matter how great your swing is, you still wouldnt be able to catch up to the real pitching. Isnt that true?

It would seem to be, but high octane swings activate concentric muscles (muscles that slow us down or put on the breaks). You would learn more about your swing by slowing down, even under those conditions. Once you begin to understand that loose is slow and vice versa, you'll learn how to swing faster the right way. Not with incomplete half swings. Experienced hitters don't try harder to hit fast pitching, they try less! What chance would you have if that machine mixed in a change-up from time to time. (Zero!!) Practice taking smooth, controlled swings at medium speed (Don't hit hard and stay in perfect balance), then identify the feel of that swing and take it to the higher pitch speeds, you'll be amazed. Most people rush through the strike zone with everything they got and that's not the way to be consistant. Feel that your hands and feet are slow and you'll hit that fast speed much better.

Respectfully,

Coach C