Posted by: DrWombat (ssa2173@earthlink.net) on Mon May 23 08:41:58 2005

> Hi, how do you identify pitches like curveballs, and changeups? Thanks , also how do you hit them? Like do you swing the same or swing differently?

You can tell by the rotation on the ball as it leaves the pitchers hand. A curve will spin toward the hitter and will usually leave the hand going up slightly as opposed to a fast ball which will come straight out of the pitcher's hand at a downward angle. Changeups spin slower or slightly sideways if it is a circle change. Sliders or cutters have a tight sideways spin. I tell my son to try to go the opposite way with offspeed pitches. This makes him wait longer on the ball and he will generally hit them up the middle instead of swinging early and rolling over the ball to 3rd and short.