Hitting curveballs

[baseballer6]

Hi, I've been hitting fine all season but all of a sudden I can't hit a curveball to save my life. It looks like I'm going to hit it but then I just swing right over top of it. Does anyone know any drills to help this. I know my swing plane needs to be more of an uppercut when hitting a curveball but I still cant manage to hit it.

[UMRebels13]

if you dont have 2 strikes on you, unless he hangs, take it. if you get 2 strikes on you keep your hands back.

[Charger567]

if you dont have 2 strikes on you, unless he hangs, take it. if you get 2 strikes on you keep your hands back.
You can't run away from it forever. If a pitcher sees this, he will throw as many in a row as he needs.

I would say repetition outside of games is important. Just seeing a lot of them seems to be a good solution.

[UMRebels13]

You can't run away from it forever. If a pitcher sees this, he will throw as many in a row as he needs.

I would say repetition outside of games is important. Just seeing a lot of them seems to be a good solution.


depending on what level it is at, your not gonna see many kids throw 3 straight curveballs for strikes. but if he does, most of the time all you can do is tip your cap to him.

[StraightGrain11]

Hi, I've been hitting fine all season but all of a sudden I can't hit a curveball to save my life. It looks like I'm going to hit it but then I just swing right over top of it. Does anyone know any drills to help this. I know my swing plane needs to be more of an uppercut when hitting a curveball but I still cant manage to hit it.

Why would you change your swing? Do you change your swing when hitting front-toss vs. full-speed live pitching? It's not your swing, it's your timing and point of contact. If you're "over top of it" then you need to make and adjustment as to where your "aiming"/directing your swing, not change your swing (or its plane).

[Nater44]

depending on what level it is at, your not gonna see many kids throw 3 straight curveballs for strikes. but if he does, most of the time all you can do is tip your cap to him.

I love it! And you are absolutely right. It's wasn't until college ball that I began to see three or four straight curveballs to guys that were weak on that pitch. However, even then pitchers make mistakes. Saw the same deal in the minor leagues also.

The best recommendation for hitting curve balls consistency is to get really good at hitting fastballs! Don't miss "your pitch" because you should be getting a couple decent pitches to hit each at bat. With the added confidence (by crushing fastballs) you'll find that hitting curve balls will become much more easy.

I know if can be frustrating for sure, but work on some strengths for now.

[Charger567]

I love it! And you are absolutely right. It's wasn't until college ball that I began to see three or four straight curveballs to guys that were weak on that pitch. However, even then pitchers make mistakes. Saw the same deal in the minor leagues also.

The best recommendation for hitting curve balls consistency is to get really good at hitting fastballs! Don't miss "your pitch" because you should be getting a couple decent pitches to hit each at bat. With the added confidence (by crushing fastballs) you'll find that hitting curve balls will become much more easy.

I know if can be frustrating for sure, but work on some strengths for now.

I am seeing it at high school JV baseball. And even if it isn't coming up for a while, I don't see what bad can come out of learning to hit one early.

[Nater44]

Nothing wrong with it man, learn it. But, place your focus on your strengths first. Of course you are seeing it at the HS level, but you are not seeing 3 every at bat for 4 at bats per game.

[UMRebels13]

I am seeing it at high school JV baseball. And even if it isn't coming up for a while, I don't see what bad can come out of learning to hit one early.

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with learning how to hit it, but dont look to hit it until you have to. The best way to beat a junk pitcher is to hit his fastball when you see it.

[StraightGrain11]

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with learning how to hit it, but dont look to hit it until you have to. The best way to beat a junk pitcher is to hit his fastball when you see it.

Hit that nail right on the head. Hit the straight stuff (it goes farther :laugh).

[kylebee]

The best advice on how to hit a curveball is simply to not miss the fastball.

[baseballer6]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not really having problems with fastballs but in practice my coach throws curveballs and I'm having a tough time all of a sudden with hitting them. He told me that I need to show him I can hit them. What's frustrating is that I've done well all season but the last few practices I've been struggling a bit and just because of that I need to prove myself all over again. I'm just frustrated over the situation and want to show him I can hit them because I can, I'm just having a little funk right now with them.

[StraightGrain11]

I'm just having a little funk right now with them.

BINGO. It's called: a SLUMP :rolleyes:. Every hitter goes through them. It's part of the game. Most slumps are a result of thinking too much. Just keep working on it. The only way out of a slump is to work your way out of it. HITTING is more about CONFIDENCE than anything. :thumbsup:

[korp]

You might be pulling your head or moving it too soon that is the problem lots of times when you can't hit curve balls. Make sure you track it all the way to contact thats usually what happens when I miss them or miscalculate the break.

[korp]

You do have to work on weaknesses though especially when pitchers hit their spots and you are forced to hit off speed late in the count.

[baseballer6]

We were just practicing curves not to make us look or do bad but just for practice. I just couldn't hit them. I was struggling a bit today but then found my stroke later. Hopefully I'll be able to carry that over into our game tomarrow.

[StraightGrain11]

Hopefully it does carry over.

What skipper5 was trying to say is that hitting is about confidence. Anything you do to detour from a hitters confidence is hurting him. The best time to work on hitting curveballs is not mid-season or when your getting close to post-season time, its very early on or after the season, when you can focus on making corrections and proper adjustments. During the season your focus is on SUCCEEDING/WINNING. This gets in the way of being able to work on things. This is why you will hear pitchers go out and give up 6 runs during spring training and say they "had a good outing" - because their goal was not to WIN, it was to LEARN about themselves.

[Love The Game]

When you swing over a curve ball, its usually because your recognition of the pitch is late. If you can see a ton of them and pick up the top spin quickly you should be ble to follow it to the bat head. Try concentrating on the pitcher's release point to pick up that curve as soon as possible.

[LAball]

I dont play baseball, but for those that do, especially in HS, can you really read the spin on the ball while batting?:confused:

[kylebee]

I dont play baseball, but for those that do, especially in HS, can you really read the spin on the ball while batting?:confused:

Yes. Picking out the spin on the pitch as it is released is important.

[LAball]

Yes. Picking out the spin on the pitch as it is released is important.

Can it be easily done? Woud a batter pick up the spin on every pitch? This starts at U10, U14, HS?

[StraightGrain11]

Can it be easily done? Woud a batter pick up the spin on every pitch? This starts at U10, U14, HS?

Should be something you're pretty much always able to do. A curveball (or "breaking" pitch) has a very distinctive spin to it - the seams will create a "circle" or a "red dot" on the ball that is VERY noticeable.

[jbooth]

I dont play baseball, but for those that do, especially in HS, can you really read the spin on the ball while batting?:confused:

Heck yes. If you can't, you need to go to the eye doctor, and if the doc says your eyes are good and you still can't pick up the spin, you need to play a different sport, because you'll never hit very well.

Most MLB hitters have BETTER than 20-20 vision and above average depth-perception and above average reflexes or reaction time. Some can see the angle of the pitcher's wrist as he lets go (I never could), and ALL can pick up the spin very soon after release, (even I can do that.)

You have to see a few of the pitcher's pitches before you get good at hitting the breaking stuff, not all curves and sliders move the same. After you see a few you basically have to read the pitch and then swing at where you anticipate it to end up at contact point. Curves are slower so if you're looking for one, and have seen it before, you can wait on it and hit it. Sliders are tougher, because they break later and are moving faster. Of course a fastball with good movement is the toughest, it is coming very fast and moves very late.

A fastball rotates from the ground up, (bottom of ball coming at you and up), a curve rotates basically sky to ground, (top of ball coming at you and down), and a slider spins like a bullet, or some people say like a cement mixer coming at you.

[LAball]

A fastball rotates from the ground up, (bottom of ball coming at you and up), a curve rotates basically sky to ground, (top of ball coming at you and down), and a slider spins like a bullet, or some people say like a cement mixer coming at you.

Thats a very good description for me to understand. Do you have any more for other pitches?

If I am a batter with a right hand pitcher, the slider spins counter-clock wise?

[Go Cardinals]

I dont play baseball, but for those that do, especially in HS, can you really read the spin on the ball while batting?:confused:

With poor eyesight like me, I can even read it.

Without contacts I'm 20/30 and 20/50, with I'm 20/15 20/15

[Go Cardinals]

Thats a very good description for me to understand. Do you have any more for other pitches?

If I am a batter with a right hand pitcher, the slider spins counter-clock wise?

when was your last at bat?

[LAball]

when was your last at bat?

about 20 years ago.:silent:

[Go Cardinals]

about 20 years ago.:silent:

Why don't you play in an adult league? You obviously love the game!

[LAball]

Why don't you play in an adult league? You obviously love the game!

ahh, dont say that , its too tempting...
I am at BBF for my son:D 9 year old lefty. I have concentrated mostly on his hitting, but next year he will be pitching, maybe, so i gata learn it.

[StraightGrain11]

Thats a very good description for me to understand. Do you have any more for other pitches?

If I am a batter with a right hand pitcher, the slider spins counter-clock wise?

Yes, the spin will be counterclockwise.
For other pitches...see, that's what makes a change-up such a nasty pitch, there is NO DIFFERENCE between its spin and the spin of a fastball, they look pretty much identical (about the only difference you might notice - if your eyes are insanely good - is a little bit of spin opposite that of a curveball's, from the hard pronation; but even that I highly doubt you would be able detect).

[jbooth]

Thats a very good description for me to understand. Do you have any more for other pitches?

If I am a batter with a right hand pitcher, the slider spins counter-clock wise?

Yes. And each pitch has a different speed. The slider is usually about 6 - 8 mph slower than the fastball, and the curve is 12 - 14 mph slower than the fastball.

Fastball 90mph
Slider 83mph
Curve 76

[rkbenn]

Keep your weight back, that's usually the biggest problem.

[Nater44]

Hi, I've been hitting fine all season but all of a sudden I can't hit a curveball to save my life. It looks like I'm going to hit it but then I just swing right over top of it. Does anyone know any drills to help this. I know my swing plane needs to be more of an uppercut when hitting a curveball but I still cant manage to hit it.

I took this posting to heart and decided to write an article on it to help others who have similar thoughts understand a bit more of what we have been saying. Here is the ARTICLE (http://ezinearticles.com/?Baseball-Swing---The-Best-Way-To-Hit-A-Curveball&id=1208410)

[LAball]

This is an old thread by now. But I didnt know exactly how to put my feelings into words about this thread. First, I think the reason you cant hit the curve balls is because you have no adjustability in the swing. I've read somewhere that the swing is a 2 engine fire. Im not exactly sure what others mean by it, but this is my take. You cant hit curve balls because you have a 1 engine fire. I feel 2 engine fire allows for adjustability. The first engine fires and give the bat the so running start, get the bat moveing. Then the second engine fires, during the firing of the second engine, the batter can adjust the bat head. And thats how you hit a curveball....... maybe.

I have a lot of respect for many posters at BBF, but telling him to basically give up hitting curveballs and hit fastballs sounds like ... well... hrm. Sounds like not being true to the faith of striving batter. I dont even know if that makes since. I do understand that hitting fastballs is a realistic answer though, because you aint gana be able to explain the details of the perfect swing. Heck many of us cant even agree on what is the perfect swing, let alone explaining it.

I felt that saying ignore the curveball, was like saying just forget it kid, cuz it aint gana happen, drops the spirit of BBF. But I guess its a realist answer unfortunately