Posted by: FiveFrameSwing (lyons.chris@yahoo.com) on Tue Sep 23 11:29:00 2008

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> Five,
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> I just wanted to say that I feel a slight change in timing. If I read the pitch well and pick up the angle and looking to hit anything thrown, say I have two strikes. It is a very minute change, and kids have a hard time making this minute change. It's something that comes with experience. This slight change allows the ball to get deeper on the outside pitch. And the only way to learn it is through practice, alternating between inside and outside pitches.
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> Now if you are looking inside or outside only, the timing for each is much easier. And working on both, just inside and just outside, that helps to develop this slight change. The hitter should feel the difference. And in time they can learn the difference, but they have to learn how to read the angle of the pitch quickly.
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> The problem I see is very few work on it.
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> I'm not discussing the mechanical changes your asking about. Just asking how many times do you force the hitter to hit nothing but inside pitches and then nothing but outside pitches. Say their facing a pitching machine, do you make them move toward and away from the plate simulating inside and outside pitches. That just one example.


Thank you Shawn.

Your description of a "slight change in timing" was helpful.

From the sound of it I'll need to get my students performing plenty of practice alternating between hitting 'inside' and 'outside' pitches.

The link below (bottom diagram) shows two plates being used. The idea is to set the pitching machine so that it mainly pitches to a certain location, but to position two plates for the student to practice their 'inside' and 'outside' pitches.

http://groundup.hittingillustrated.com/hitting/Plate_setup_for_practicing_inside_outside_locations.pdf

Let me know if you have an alternative setup.

Slaught & Candrea preach looking 'inside' and adjusting 'outside'. See the video clip below.

http://groundup.hittingillustrated.com/hitting/RVP_IP300_SB/64_Adjusting__Inside_to_Outside__Mike.wmv

On the other hand, Rql speaks of looking 'outside' and adjusting 'inside'. The logic, if I understand it correctly, is to look 'outside' while anticipating moving to a launch position with the hands moving back the furthest, but to interrupt this and not move the hands back as far when you detect an 'inside' pitch.

What is your opinion on "looking in & adjust away" versus "look away & adjust in"?

-- FFS