question about batting distance

[donny90]

i currently bat by myself in a rundown baseball park in sterling alaska haha but anyway when i bat all i do is throw the ball up and take a big swing, some of the longest ive hit were around 250 feet. my question is: will the baseball go farther if someone pitches it to you? and if so about how much farther?? any info will be appreciated thanks. p.s. im 17 and only 160 pounds so do you think thats normal?

[7 Johnson 7]

well the ball should go farther if someones picthing it to you becuase soft toss is just the ball moving with no momentum but if the ball is being pitched it would have more momentum behind the ball and im not trying to tell you that you cant hit but even if its solf toss man your 17 you should be hitting soft toss over 350 ft. fenses im only 14 and im going into high school next yeah and i've hit a homerun over a 385 ft. fence

[donny90]

you can toss the ball in the air and hit it 385+???? because with just throwing it up 3 feet and swinging thats when i hit around 250 not when im being pitched to

[donny90]

oh ya and i forgot to mention that when i do hit a 250 it seems like the ball just flies high and far then just drops! like it will go 230 still climbing then just bam! starts to fall and makes 20 more feet can someone tell me what thats about?

[TG Coach]

oh ya and i forgot to mention that when i do hit a 250 it seems like the ball just flies high and far then just drops! like it will go 230 still climbing then just bam! starts to fall and makes 20 more feet can someone tell me what thats about?

If you're trying to improve your hitting, you need to do it with a tee not hitting the ball out of your hand.

[Jake Patterson]

im only 14 and im going into high school next yeah and i've hit a homerun over a 385 ft. fence

Then you are a very special young man.
That's hitting a ball over the right field wall at Fenway...

[paul5150]

well the ball should go farther if someones picthing it to you becuase soft toss is just the ball moving with no momentum but if the ball is being pitched it would have more momentum behind the ball and im not trying to tell you that you cant hit but even if its solf toss man your 17 you should be hitting soft toss over 350 ft. fenses im only 14 and im going into high school next yeah and i've hit a homerun over a 385 ft. fence

i love how this kids first post on the site is just bashing someone and is just bragging about himself about what i doubt he can really do.

[TG Coach]

Then you are a very special young man.
That's hitting a ball over the right field wall at Fenway...

I believe it's possibe. My son only weighs 128 right now. He hit one 365 a couple of weeks ago. What I couldn't believe is how far under the pitch he was and it went that far, that high. Had he been on it, who knows how far it would have gone. Add in it was a hard throwing pitcher, probably 78-80. Unfortunately the centerfielder caught up to it in the gap in front of the 370 sign. It's the furthest he's hit a ball. His homers are all down the line about 315-330. Last year he would have had to hit the ball, pick it up and hit it again to hit the ball 365.

I watched a 14U kid hammer one over a twenty foot high fence at the 400 mark in center earlier this year. I saw a 13U kid do it last year.

[Baseball gLove]

A freshman pitcher throwing at 80 mph and a freshman batter batter hitting it? I don't believe it.:D

[baseball2234]

and a 13 year old hitting hit over a high 400 foot fence? u kiddin me?

[TG Coach]

and a 13 year old hitting hit over a high 400 foot fence? u kiddin me?

The physical maturity age of a thirteen, fourteen year old is more relevant than his chronological age. These are both kids ahead of the physical development/puberty curve. My son is behind the curve. While playing 14U, with the age change (turned 14 in May) he could play 13U. His pediatrician sports ortho specialist says he's physically barely thirteen.

[TG Coach]

A freshman pitcher throwing at 80 mph and a freshman batter batter hitting it? I don't believe it.:D

You know better. I know you're joking. We saw a kid throwing 84 in a 14U Super NIT. At what age did Stock hit 90?

[SluggerCF91]

well the ball should go farther if someones picthing it to you becuase soft toss is just the ball moving with no momentum but if the ball is being pitched it would have more momentum behind the ball and im not trying to tell you that you cant hit but even if its solf toss man your 17 you should be hitting soft toss over 350 ft. fenses im only 14 and im going into high school next yeah and i've hit a homerun over a 385 ft. fence
If you really have done that, you probably weigh a lot more than 160 Ibs.

[Swing Coach]

Don't discount the positives in tossing a ball to yourself. You have to be quick, you have to hit it in front and you have to have a good swing plane. I have a few kids on an 9-year-old team who had poor (downward swing planes) and after a couple sessions of tossing to themselves and me telling them to hit it over the fence, they dramatically improved.

[donny90]

okay i just want this question awnsered, does a pitched ball go farther then a tossed up ball and if so, about how much farther do you think? because im sure if i got pitched to i could hit farther then 250 feet but with just throwing it up in the air and quickly swinging THATS when i hit around 250

[Baseball gLove]

You know better. I know you're joking. We saw a kid throwing 84 in a 14U Super NIT. At what age did Stock hit 90?

Stock hit 90mph at 15 years of age. 95 mph at 16. He is now 17 years old and throws 97 mph for University of Southern California.

[SluggerCF91]

Off a pitcher throwing 70 mph, I have hit a ball about 350'. Throwing the ball up, and self hitting it, I couldn't hit the ball any further than 250'. YES, a pitched ball will go further than a tossed up ball. How much further? Thats a mystery, and depends on how hard the pitcher throws, how hard you swing, where you hit the ball on the bat, the angle of your swing, the humidity in the air, and a whole bunch of other things. I'm sure you could hit a baseball over 325' against a pitcher throwing 70 mph.

[7 Johnson 7]

If you really have done that, you probably weigh a lot more than 160 Ibs.


No im about 160-165

[SluggerCF91]

No im about 160-165
The pitcher must have thrown the pitch real hard, and you must have gotten all of it, because that is exceptional if its true.

[Baseball gLove]

The pitcher must have thrown the pitch real hard, and you must have gotten all of it, because that is exceptional if its true.


My son weighs 130 lbs and hit a 60 mph pitch 320 feet.

[donny90]

Off a pitcher throwing 70 mph, I have hit a ball about 350'. Throwing the ball up, and self hitting it, I couldn't hit the ball any further than 250'. YES, a pitched ball will go further than a tossed up ball. How much further? Thats a mystery, and depends on how hard the pitcher throws, how hard you swing, where you hit the ball on the bat, the angle of your swing, the humidity in the air, and a whole bunch of other things. I'm sure you could hit a baseball over 325' against a pitcher throwing 70 mph.

is that bad for 17 year old 160 pounder? im also behind with people my age meaning im not as developed...

[SluggerCF91]

My son weighs 130 lbs and hit a 60 mph pitch 320 feet.
You must do a lot of work with him then.
is that bad for 17 year old 160 pounder? im also behind with people my age meaning im not as developed...
I don't think its bad at all. You don't HAVE to hit the ball far to be a successful team player. All you have to do is spray base hits 3 out to every 10 at-bats to be considered "good". You're 17 and you weight 160 Ibs. Your probably more of a line drive/contact hitter, instead of a 6'3" 210 IB uppercut/power hitter.

[TG Coach]

is that bad for 17 year old 160 pounder? im also behind with people my age meaning im not as developed...

How hard you hit the ball is far more important than how far you hit it. If you hit hard line drives you can be a successful hitter. If the pitcher makes a mistake you may drive one further. My son leads his 14U travel team in homers. He does not swing for homers. He swings to hit the ball hard. Besides, he can't hit a homer unless he pulls it down the line, 315-330. he only weighs 128. Over the rest of the field 315-330 are outs unless they find the gap.

[korp]

Hmm a good way to think about it is ... if a car is going 30 mph and hits a parked car or one going 5mph head on it will not be as big of an impact as if both are going 30mph. If somebody throws the ball its going to go further and quicker than if you toss it in the air. I'm not sure if a major leaguer could hit the ball 500+ ft if they just threw it up in the air ... dispite the commercials.

[Go Cardinals]

Hmm a good way to think about it is ... if a car is going 30 mph and hits a parked car or one going 5mph head on it will not be as big of an impact as if both are going 30mph. If somebody throws the ball its going to go further and quicker than if you toss it in the air. I'm not sure if a major leaguer could hit the ball 500+ ft if they just threw it up in the air ... dispite the commercials.

Your right

[jima]

Glad to hear that your 128.5 lb boys are crushing it (365 and didn't get it all)....do their grandparents read this site? If not, be sure they do.

[TG Coach]

Glad to hear that your 128.5 lb boys are crushing it (365 and didn't get it all)....do their grandparents read this site? If not, be sure they do.

He got it all when he hit it 365. What he didn't do was hit it on a line. He got under it. It's also 30 feet further than he's hit any other ball except one he hit about 340-350. When quick hands and good swing mechanics meet at 78-80mph fastball, the ball flies.

[Baseball gLove]

Glad to hear that your 128.5 lb boys are crushing it (365 and didn't get it all)....do their grandparents read this site? If not, be sure they do.

This one went 350 Feet; a one bounce to the 365 foot sign. I estimate that pitch to be in the low 70's.

http://eteamz.active.com/NVYB/videos/MVI_0491.AVI

Here he is in the cage. The coach pictured worked with 1st round draft picks #2 and #12 of the 2007 MLB Draft.

http://eteamz.active.com/NVYB/videos/Picture078.avi

[Jake Patterson]

Here he is in the cage. The coach pictured worked with 1st round draft picks #2 and #12 of the 2007 MLB Draft.

http://eteamz.active.com/NVYB/videos/Picture078.avi

Looks like a slice...

[SluggerCF91]

Looks like a slice...
Yes, it does, but he hit it hard with backspin.

[korp]

Looks like a slice...

lol well "inside out" I think is the correct baseball term.

[Jake Patterson]

This one went 350 Feet; a one bounce to the 365 foot sign. I estimate that pitch to be in the low 70's.

http://eteamz.active.com/NVYB/videos/MVI_0491.AVI

Here he is in the cage. The coach pictured worked with 1st round draft picks #2 and #12 of the 2007 MLB Draft.

http://eteamz.active.com/NVYB/videos/Picture078.avi

BL
I get sceptical of tales from dads of small players hitting the ball this far. This is my problem and not yours. After having coached HS in a good prep school league and having been involved with American Legion (U19) for some time (many players are monsters who play onto college) I just haven't seen that many 14y/o 130 nothing pounders hit balls that could clear Fenway's Right Field Wall. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but like I said in an earlier post - he must be something real special. His second swing would need some work, but I am certain that is what the coach is working on.


Jake

[Baseball gLove]

BL
I get sceptical of tales from dads of small players hitting the ball this far. This is my problem and not yours. After having coached HS in a good prep school league and having been involved with American Legion (U19) for some time (many players are monsters who play onto college) I just haven't seen that many 14y/o 130 nothing pounders hit balls that could clear Fenway's Right Field Wall. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but like I said in an earlier post - he must be something real special. His second swing would need some work, but I am certain that is what the coach is working on.


Jake

The 2nd clip is that of a hit of an outside pitch. Slow it down and check it out. Doesn't look like such a bad hit after all, does it? A ball slicing away from the right fielder can turn into extra bases.

[achaley07]

The 2nd clip is that of a hit of an outside pitch. Slow it down and check it out. Doesn't look like such a bad hit after all, does it? A ball slicing away from the right fielder can turn into extra bases.

that doesnt mean its right. it also means it could slice foul all a slice on the ball means is you didnt hit it square.

[Baseball gLove]

that doesnt mean its right. it also means it could slice foul all a slice on the ball means is you didnt hit it square.

Does that mean when my son hit his three run triple that sliced away from a right fielder and ended up in the right field corner, that all the runners should have gone back to their bases?

[jima]

Does that mean when my son hit his three run triple that sliced away from a right fielder and ended up in the right field corner, that all the runners should have gone back to their bases?

BLove, it took guts to post the vid of your kid. Your kid is a middle fielder and he better be able to hit the ball where its pitched. No need to defend one swing in a batting cage. Thanks for posting it. jima

[TG Coach]

BLove, it took guts to post the vid of your kid. Your kid is a middle fielder and he better be able to hit the ball where its pitched. No need to defend one swing in a batting cage. Thanks for posting it. jima

Why does a middle infielder have to hit the ball where it's pitched? My son primarily plays second on his travel team. He's a dead pull hitter. He leads his travel team in slugging percentage. He played short on his middle school team.

[Jake Patterson]

Does that mean when my son hit his three run triple that sliced away from a right fielder and ended up in the right field corner, that all the runners should have gone back to their bases?

Blove:
No defense needed - no attack was intended. I merely stated that he sliced the ball. This does not speak to his talent nor training.

Jake

[Baseball gLove]

Why does a middle infielder have to hit the ball where it's pitched? My son primarily plays second on his travel team. He's a dead pull hitter. He leads his travel team in slugging percentage. He played short on his middle school team.

We don't and can't hide slow guys in the outfield in high school ball. If your son only pulls the ball he is going to have to worry about two outfielders. The high school coah benched one player that was a pull hitter. He couldn't quite hit it over the fence, so his hits were long outs.

[jima]

Why does a middle infielder have to hit the ball where it's pitched?

All great hitters hit the ball where its pitched...being a dead pull hitter is nothing to brag about....in fact, if you don't know how to hit behind a runner your team will not win many games.

[TG Coach]

We don't and can't hide slow guys in the outfield in high school ball. If your son only pulls the ball he is going to have to worry about two outfielders. The high school coah benched one player that was a pull hitter. He couldn't quite hit it over the fence, so his hits were long outs.

With two strikes he hits it where it's pitched. But until then he's looking for a pitch to turn on. At 14U and 15U (sometimes) he may just be ahead of the pitching. All but two of his hits are to the right side of the field. Being a lefty he's not going to try to hit the other way. When he played a couple of 16U games as a thirteen year old he sprayed the ball.

[TG Coach]

[QUOTE=TG Coach;941451]Why does a middle infielder have to hit the ball where it's pitched?

All great hitters hit the ball where its pitched...being a dead pull hitter is nothing to brag about....in fact, if you don't know how to hit behind a runner your team will not win many games.

A lefty needs to pull the ball to hit behind the runner. Smart hitters look for their pitch to hit. My son likes middle/in. When a 14U kid is physically behind the curve by a year, playing at the highest level of travel (USSSA Majors) has a slugging percentage of .713 and an OPS of 1.222 I'm not going to lose too much sleep over his hitting.

[korp]

Why does he play second base if he is a pull hitter though? I can't remember a good dead pull hitter that plays second base.

[TG Coach]

Why does he play second base if he is a pull hitter though? I can't remember a good dead pull hitter that plays second base.

He played short (and pitched) on his middle school team in the spring. He's been told he'll skip the freshman team and get a varsity tryout. Chances are he'll be the starting JV shortstop as a freshman. He plays second on his travel team since the shortstop is bigger, has a little stronger arm and my son was recruited to play second.

While short is a preference he doesn't care where he plays as long as he's playing. He's also played short, right and center for his travel team. He played a game in center for his middle school at the request of the high school varsity coach in attendance. Last year in travel he played whatever position the pitcher came from. That had him at second, short, third, center and catcher. He pitched too.

[jima]

[QUOTE=jima;941495]

A lefty needs to pull the ball to hit behind the runner. Smart hitters look for their pitch to hit. My son likes middle/in. When a 14U kid is physically behind the curve by a year, playing at the highest level of travel (USSSA Majors) has a slugging percentage of .713 and an OPS of 1.222 I'm not going to lose too much sleep over his hitting.

You state the obivious better than most. Don't lose any sleep, but as much time as you spend charting how big he is going to be; his on base %; how he is behind physically; etc., it would seem also obvious that he will not see middle inside pitches in HS...he better learn to hit to the opposite field if he is going to be succesful. Lets see a clip and see how he's doing it...particularly the 365 shot.

[Swing Coach]

I once played against a lanky lefty player about 15 years ago who could hit the ball to left, center and right field harder than any person I have ever played against. This got him "noticed" and drafted in the early nineties. He soon got to the major leagues and was hitting home runs to the each field. He kept getting bigger and stronger and his coaches taught him to turn on almost anything in sight. Now the defense often plays the shortstop on the first base side of second because he is so predictably "pull." He just scored 40 points for my fantasy baseball team this week. The answer:..Jim Thome

[TG Coach]

[QUOTE=TG Coach;941503]

You state the obivious better than most. Don't lose any sleep, but as much time as you spend charting how big he is going to be; his on base %; how he is behind physically; etc., it would seem also obvious that he will not see middle inside pitches in HS...he better learn to hit to the opposite field if he is going to be succesful. Lets see a clip and see how he's doing it...particularly the 365 shot.

When you made an issue I calculated his stats with the information I had available. Why won't he see middle/in pitches in high school? If he comes out crushing the inside pitch, the pitchers will adapt and so will he. When a hitter has a quality swing through the zone, he'll hit it hard where it's pitched. I'm looking forward to what happens when he grows. I've been through it with one already.

I've never taken a clip of either of my kid's swing. I've never had to. They've always had great mechanics. The only instruction the youngest ever needs is not getting overanxious and keeping the hands back. When they get fooled at the plate they know what they did wrong. The high school coach (a former minor leaguer and hitting instructor when he's not coaching) told my son his swing is as good as any of the varsity hitters. Now he needs to increase his bat speed. He'll also needs to learn how to hit a quality high school curve. My oldest is playing college softball. My son has a tough reputation to follow through the high school.