Posted by: Stevo (stevo@linedrivesports.com) on Sun Jul 1 22:50:50 2001

HI I AM HITTING THE BALL HARD AND I AM MAKING VERY GOOD CONTACT BUT I AM HITTING EVERYTHING EITHER TO FIRST OR SECOND BASE, I AM A LEFTHANDED BATTER, I DONT WANT TO CHANGE MY SWING BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HIT THE BALL TO THE OUTFIELD ONCE IN AWHILE.PLEASE HELP,
> > > > JEFF
> > >
> > > Jeff,
> > >
> > > If you are not briging your bacK elbow to your side before you start your forward movement with you hand you can bring the bat to the ball at a very steep angle. Usually you will hit the top half of the ball on this angle driving the ball into the ground. Once in a while you will hit a weak pop up to the infield or short outfield.
> > >
> > > Look that the frame by frame on this site. The elbow has to come in before the hands start forward.
> > >
> > > Joe A or B, I forget.
> > >
> >
> > It also sounds like you just might be a little in front of the ball. If you swing with a slight upswing (like almost everybody naturally does) and you're making contact too far out in front you're going to hit the top half of the ball.
> >
> > As Ted William's said in his book:
> > "Ground out a lot? You're probably swinging too early. Popping up? Probably swinging late. It's a slight upswing, remember, and when you're late you're under the ball, when you're early you're on top."
> >
> > (you can read his book online for free at TedWilliams.com)
> >
> > To fix this I'd go to a batting cage and working hitting slow pitching up the middle.
>
> Jeff,
>
> I don't agree with the last post. I am in dissagreement with most people about this. I don't think that a hitter can swing "up" on the ball unless its high out of the strike zone. I mean like shoulder height.
>
> Heres my idea. Most hitter hold their hands in their stance about arm pit level. Some push the bat straight back before they start their swing. Others lower their hands a little. But I am not aware of any one, expect maybe slow pitch softball hitters, who lower their bat to a level at or below a high strike.
>
> So, the hands are launched toward the ball from a level above a high strike. This is a downward path to a high strike and anything lower. The only way to swing up on the ball is to lower your hands below the level of the ball before the swing OR after you start your swing, swoop the bat below the level of the pitch then up at it. Try it and see if you think its possible to hit a ball with any consistancy or power.
>
> The reason people think that hitters swing up on the ball is that at the end of the swing the bat is moving upward. And I agree, it is. But try this. Do a practice swing and make sure it is level or a little downward. Notice that after the bat passes the hitting area that your right hand (for a right handed hitter) rolls over your left and your left elbow colaspes to your side. Also notice that this causes the bat to rise on the follow through, giving the impression that the swing was up.
>
> Joe B.
>
>
Your left elbow collapsing to your side may also indicate that your upper body rotation stopped before completion. It's difficult for that elbow to touch the side of your body unless you are stopping rotation and whipping the bat against your back or upper arm/shoulder. Try some dry swings where you keep your hands inside the ball, extend just prior to point of contact letting the momentum of extension and rotation drive your left shoulder back towards the catcher. I think you will find it very uncomfortable to dig your left elbow into your side if you are swinging with any velocity. The location of the left elbow at contact should be mostly dependent on the pitch location in live hitting. Thats the reason for the dry swings starting slowly and building speed with practice.
Stevo