Posted by: bobbyk () on Fri Dec 13 11:45:09 2002

Teacherman said:

>> They have to let the ball come to them instead of going out after it. How do you do this? I've had very good results with high school age players asking them to "focus" on the contact point as they watch the ball come in. What do I mean by focus? I mean their set up, their load, their mental image, everything is ready to swing and "aimed" at the contact point (the top of a batting T if it were there). Their decision is yes swing or no don't. But if its yes, they swing at the T. They time the ball to the T. Get the bathead at the T at the same time as the ball. Having a spot to time the ball to makes it easier for them than to just time the ball.

Teacherman:

Why do you need a batting T? I thouhgt that is the purpose of Home Plate. Why not use the plate as the reference point? Where exactly do you propose to put the batting T - - I hope you say home plate. Anyway, by posing my initial scenario, I did not and do not want to get into a debate about where proper contact is; let's just say my players are hitting the ball further out front then I want them too, is there any suggestions from anyone on things I can do to "let them or make them feel letting the ball get deeper".

Trying to transfer hitting the heavy bag to hitting an incoming baseball is the issue with the same/similar bat speed and mechanics. Problem is my players hit the incoming ball past where the heavy bag would be and then different problems arise like deceleration, disconnecting, throwing their hands, slowing the bat, etc. I guess it is the age old problem/question of TIMING.

Does the swing advocated on this website provide for a greater margin of error in TIMING judgments than let's say the linear swing where the bat head seems to be in the zone forever because of course it is moving so slow.

Are there any modifications or tips to the rotational swing that can help keep the bat head in the zone longer?