Posted by: Jimmy () on Wed Apr 11 21:19:12 2007

> > Hi i'm 14 and I play on a travel team. I usually bat 3rd 4th or 5th in the lineup. Due to
this, I receive more curveballs. I am a sucker for the low curveballs. The ones that start
about mid chest to belt high and then break down to the dirt/feet. Any comments/
suggestions that would help this issue would be appreciated.
>
> Ok listen closely. I know it´s a habit you are doing so stop doing it. Eliminate the
curveball until you get two strikes and get a fastball early in the count and you will never
have that problem. So your problem is that you have a bad approach. You need to sit dead
red fastball and if you get a hanger down over the plate bang it. Go up there looking to get
a fastabll. At that age anyways kids struggle throwing strikes so why not get something
hard and hit it.

Hi,

Make sure that you are really concentrating on seeing the ball as well as you can.
Recognition of off-speed out of the zone is vital in being able to lay off of it. Look for that
fastball but be sure that you try to see it all the way in to the hitting zone.

Curve balls that start at the fastball height but then break down and out of the zone are
the tough ones to lay off of (especially when you're looking for the fastball at that height).

So if you control your swing, stay on the ball with your head and front side, and see the
ball as well as possible, you should improve this part of your game.

One way to help keep yourself from pulling off and committing too soon on curveballs is
to try to hit the fastball up the middle or to the opposite field. This will ensure you to see
the ball longer, it keeps your bat on the ball longer, and it will help your front side from
flying out of control.

One more thing, DON'T MISS THE FASTBALL WHEN YOU GET IT!

Hope this helps,

Jimmy