Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Sep 12 11:26:39 2007

>>> This year of fall ball is my first on the big field, and so far im perfect at the plate. But, i seem to be hitting more to the opposite field then pulling it. I hit line drives, but for the first time im really hittign them to the opposite field. Any reason why? <<<

Hi Shawn

Hitting the ball to the opposite field just means you are making contact before your bat has rotated perpendicular to the incoming ball. Or, in other words, you are hitting the ‘inside’ part of the ball. To ‘pull’ the ball means the bat has rotated past perpendicular so that it is hitting the ‘outside’ part of the ball.

You certainly have a right to be encouraged if you are hitting hard line drives to the opposite field. This means your mechanics are generating good bat speed early in the swing. Hitting weak grounders and pop flies would indicate the bat has not accelerated and was dragging in the contact zone.

I have my students work on timing that hits the ball straightaway. If their timing is a little late, the ball is hit to the opposite field – a little early will pull the ball. In either case, if their mechanics are sound, the ball will be hit hard.

Jack Mankin