Posted by: Richard Schenck () on Sun Sep 1 17:59:33 2002

Hi Jack,I have been trying to find a drill or cue other than the bag to focus on to stop the hitter from going out to get the ball.So Icame up with an idea and thought I would throw it out for criticism or adjustment.it is only a cue or image idea but draw a line from about 3" in front of the plate on an inside corner to a point about 1/2 way back between the 2 corners on the outside corner of the plate.Now have the hitter imagine a wall their going up 6',if the ball is struck at or behind the wall the bat can pass thru unobstructed but if contact is made in front of the line then the bat will crash into the wall.I'm just trying to get them a mental image somehow to hit the ball further back.

rql

What has worked for my sons is to imagine swinging at the t and at the t only. The t being where a batting t would be if one were sitting there. Swing if the ball will cross it. Don't swing if it won't. Benefits are you are making the pitcher throw to you (your spot), you are not reacting to him (the infinite locations within the strike zone). Off speed can still fool you but what's new. I actually find it easier to deal with off speed this way than any other way. I find a timing benefit also as I am timing the ball to a specific spot as compared to timing a moving ball to whereever it may go. With less than 2 strikes this approach has soon tremendous benefits. Of course with 2 strikes you need to protect the plate. This technique almost guarantees a good swing at every pitch swung at (off speed excluded). Try it and I'd like to hear your comments. It puts the batter in a position where he already knows where he will swing before the pitch is thrown. He just won't swing if the ball won't cross his t. As ones' swing and reaction time improves the t will grow to about the size of a volleyball (maybe larger if you get really good) meaning you can hit any ball hard if it comes into a zone about the size of a volleyball on top of a t. The hitter needs to setup so that his swing when launched will contact the ball at the t. If set up properly, this goes along way to helping the hitter stay back and hit deeper in the zone. He'll make contact whereever he sets his imaginary t. It's just a cue but the effect is you take great swings unless fooled by offspeed. When you get a cure for that let me know.