Posted by: THG () on Thu Sep 27 15:02:19 2007

> If a young player (age 9) has athletic ability, would it advantage him to help him learn to switch hit if he is a right handed batter normally?
>
> Or should the time be spent strengthening his solid swing from his normal side?
>
> I want to help my boys reach their potential but don't want to waste my time when it has no benefit?


In that case, rather than a switch hitter think about converting him to a left handed hitter. Note the following benefits:

1. shorter distance from home to first

2. there a more right hand pitchers

3. the distances from home to the fence are generally shorter down the right field line in the big leagues

4. most of the best hitters at the big league level are and have been left handed batters

5. the whole between first and second allows the left handed hitter more room to pull the ball which a good hitter should be able to take advantage

6. defenses tend to over shift for good left handed hitters. This means there will tremendous gaps somewhere on the playing field to be exploited. Just watch a game in which David Ortiz is up to bat. The entire third base area is vacated. He should be hitting .400 against that shift.


Of course if he is making the conversion, he will have to practice a lot. But if he has the athletic ability it should not be a problem if he starts at nine years old.