Posted by: Chuck (jcsherwood8458@sbcglobal.net) on Sun Nov 5 17:35:36 2006

The way a batter performs in the batting cage is often very different from the game situation. One of the first things to break down in a game situation is the batter (when faced with the prospect of deciding if he should swing at the pitch or not) does not make a consistent inward turn of the shoulder/hands/torso and get to the launch position on every pitch. In a batting cage situation the batter usually expects a strike and is often much more free swinging. In game situations, I see many kids well into their teenage years, taking strikes right down the middle without ever preparing to swing. What suggestions do you have for helping hitters to understand that the act of getting to the launch position must occur on every pitch, and is a separate endeavor from deciding if they like the pitch and should swing at it?