Posted by: ray porco () on Tue Jun 19 18:01:23 2001

Today i was hitting today and i was extremly late i wasn't hitting anything except some weak grounders and pop-ups to rights failed cause i was looping around the ball. When should i start my motion i have a leg kick.


jim,

although i don't think you are a little leaguer, i think teaching little leaguers how to time a pitch is the second most important thing you can teach them about hitting.

99% of them make contact when the stride foot lands. wrong.

to make it easy i used to tell them FOR STARTERS to "coil when the pitcher's hands separate" and "lift the stride foot when the pitcher's arm (and ball) are at the high release point". AND THEN ADJUST FROM THERE (for pitchers with a good fastball and those without).

a couple of more ideas:
1.) have someone video tape you from the rear with the pitcher in the view. if your stride foot isn't down before the ball is 1/3 of the way in on a fastball, your probably gonna be late.

2.) direct a question to tim olsen about your leg kick. he has some interesting takes.

ray porco