Posted by: jay (ufriend-2006@rediff.com) on Sun Feb 19 22:03:07 2006

> >>> It would be interesting to know what age group of girls you are coaching . I have 16 yr. olds and the pitchers we face throw anywhere from 55 to 60 mph. and their is no drop on their fastball from 40'..
> > I addition to using baseballs as I had also mentioned , I cant throw as fast as these girls with the underhand delivery and have found throwing from 25 - 30 foot very benefical as far as reaction time goes, to more fully simulate the speeds they will be facing. I can remember doing the same thing with my son on a regular basis, throwing tennis balls from 40ft instead of the 60'6''. And this we both feel helped him greatly. And its amazing after doing this for a few weeks , how the number of swing and misses, turns into solid contact.
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> > I also like pitching from 25-30' when working on the different bunts. They get use to it and it makes the 40' seem alot simpler.
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> > I think it would be certainly worth the time to give it a try before you decide.
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> > These are just my thoughts about what has worked for me.
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> > I do find the bag drill to be very interesting as I use to have my son swing at a hanging tire years ago. How do you coaches that use it hang a bag up at practice? <<<
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> > Hi B&H
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> > Throwing to a batter from 25 - 30 can be beneficial with the proper throwing motion. But I have also seen many instances where I felt the drill was counterproductive. The timing sequence a batter takes to prepare the launch position and trigger for initiation has a great bearing on the quality of the swing. The sequence (windup, stride, etc.) a baseball or softball pitcher undergoes in preparing to throw the ball allows the batter to build a rhythm for the inward-turn, stride and smooth initiation of the swing.
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> > But many times when the throwing distance is short, the ball is delivered with a short quick-pitch motion that does not give the batter time to develop rhythm for preparing the launch position. The batter is forced to jerk into action instead of being loose and fluid at initiation. So I would suggest a good wind-up type of procedure is even more important when throwing from a short distance. --- I have the same concerns with the use of pitching machines, especially set at higher speeds. - You can probably read my thoughts on rapid-fire quick-toss to build quickness in a batter.
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> > Jack Mankin
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> I understand what your saying and agree for the most part. But also feel the batters main focus is not the pitchers style of delivery but on the release point. And have my batters place most of their focus on that. Being able to see the pitcher but focusing on the area where the ball will be released, as that point will remain constant.
> Much like a ball shooting out of the hole at the batting cages. They can see the light come on,see the ball coming down the track ( hence being able to time it ) like a pitchers delivery but in another style.
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> I believe in trying to pitch the same style they will be facing. No short quick motion... But have found, that when I do throw with that motion, its still hit. The players use something else to time it by. Such as my rythm in picking up the ball and the step when I throw this way. Pitchers are different and have different styles and its all about adapting.
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> When the pitching distance for my girls was 35' , I was pitching from 30'. As they aged and the distance moved back to 40', I was still throwing from 30' and they hit it even harder.
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> I read an article many years back about how Johnny Bench use to practice. Instead of 127', he would throw to a 150' base to make his arm stronger so the 127' seemed like nothing. And I believe much can be said about making your players quicker with the bat by pitching to them at a shorter distance within reason, they adapt and it makes them better, quicker, more focused.
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> Heres a question that I have been thinking about. Does a good singles and avg. hitter such as pete rose was, and a home run power hitter such as bonds and griffy use the same mechanics? In another words, would you teach a player that was not nor will not be blessed for power but has great speed the same mechanics in hitting to make solid contact, and punch out those singles for a greater batting avg.
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> Im asking this because I have worked with a couple of girls like this, on using the flat bat therory I asked about here and have saw considerable improvement in their ability to hit the ball and punch out singles.
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> I am beginning to think that you cannot put every player into a ken griffy mold and turn them into the same type of hitter with the exact same swing.
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