Posted by: Shawn (mariner0324@yahoo.com) on Sun Oct 2 18:40:33 2005

> > Hi Dave,
> > I thank you for your post. I was wondering if the tennis balls were thrown by a pitching machine or from some type of tennis ball machine? Thanks!
> >
> > Erik
>
> Oh, that reminds me of a drilll where the coach labels a ball with a number, and the hitter has to tell the coach what the number was on the thrown ball. I never tried this, but I heard about it quite a few times.
>
> And by release point square, I don't mean the exact release point. a smart pitcher or inconsistent one you'll have a hard time picking up the ball that way. I mean a big square, an area, big enough area so that if the release point changes it's still inside that square somewhere.
> To be honest with you, when I hit, I don't try or think of trying to pick up a release point. I just see it, and hit it. It worked well for me this past summer. Thanks.

Erik,

I believe you track the wind up, it doesn't matter if you can see the ball, you follow the motion. You track the motion by always staying ahead, just like you track the ball. Thi way you don't fall behind as the ball is released, you anticipate the release. Just starring at the release point makes the ball jump out at you, there's no rythym to just starring at a space. Tracking the arm action prior to release gives you rythym and starting on time.

I think the key is to track ahead, stay ahead of the ball, and this includes tracking the arm action. Just focusing on an area, release point, doesn't work that well.