Posted by: Scott (stwinton@netzero.net) on Thu Apr 28 10:00:18 2005

> Well, it is hard for some to get into the baseball when the pitch is high. But, that is the pitch ALL hitters should like, because not much effort is required to hit it hard. Not much rotation either. Just stay on top of the ball and your upper body strength should naturally produce a hard hit ball. That is why pitchers are consistently told to keep the ball down (hence the more and more recent development of sinkers and cutters as typical). "ALL HANDS FIRST", on a high pitch will produce alot of line drives and home runs, as long as the pitch isn't above the shoulders and you're quick enough to get on top of the ball. Get on top! That should help.
> > This may have been discussed before but I have just started my son on the rotational swing mechanics with a circular hand path which has already helped tremendously. He used to be extreme linear with almost a chop on the top of the ball and was doing well with that but now the line drives are hard as thunder when he hits. My only problem I am having is understanding how to teach him to hit the high pitch when hes got two strikes on him . I dont see it in any of the pictures of pro swings....every pitch you see them hit in the paper and on the net is a belt high middle fastball or something belt high or below. How is it possible with these mechanics to hit the high pitch ??? Hope I do not sound argumenative but I just dont get it. I would think that to hit the high pitch you would have to use some linear mechanics a little. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated :-)
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jeff M.

Think of keeping the bat head above the hands...it will plane out in due time. On this pitch it is better to be a little on top then a little under...Stay inside and on top...

Three addition faults I see with rotation mechanics...brought to light with the pitch up…
1. the pitch up
2. keeping your head still and behind the ball and contact
3. a long swing that is not able to account for late movement and or a swing that must be initiated earlier then a shorter linier swing, thus leaving less time to recognize the pitch and the location.