Hitting pitches up in the strike zone?

[shake-n-bake]

Wondering what adjustments I can recommend to someone that hits consistently well on mid-torso and below pitches, but is not making contact with pitches in roughly the upper 1/3 of the strike zone?

[mudvnine]

Wondering what adjustments I can recommend to someone that hits consistently well on mid-torso and below pitches, but is not making contact with pitches in roughly the upper 1/3 of the strike zone?

Don't take this wrong, but just don't swing at those pitches (unless of course you have two strikes). I know that sounds simplistic and a "no duh" (as my boys would put it), but if you (or your son) already have a decent swing, changing it to accommodate a certain pitch may do more harm then good.

This is where a good mental approach or "plan" comes into play at the plate and forcing yourself to only swing at "your pitch" until you have two strikes.
Odds are that within a given AB, you will see "your pitch" or one very near it. Focus on hitting that and force them to figure out that the "upper 1/3" is your weakness when they're pitching to you . . . most pitchers are taught to work down in the zone anyway, so think of it as an advantage and use it in your favor.

[shake-n-bake]

That makes sense. He has a good eye, doesn't swing at many bad pitches, so I think he could do that. Seems like more pitches are higher than lower in the strike zone at his age though. Umpiring can be a wild card at the level as well and that makes it hard to get too selective. Sometimes it seems like he's a sitting duck up there when he doesn't hit early in the count.

[Mark H]

I agree with Mud. Look waist down with less than two strikes and your obp, walks and BA should go up. Note...mid torso and below takes care of ALL the strike zone with most umps and then some.

[rkbenn]

Wondering what adjustments I can recommend to someone that hits consistently well on mid-torso and below pitches, but is not making contact with pitches in roughly the upper 1/3 of the strike zone?

what is it about this kid that makes it difficult to hit those pitches? too much tilt? most kids or hitters love that pitch. i know i do.

[Mark H]

Perhaps a slight push down disconnect would be my guess but who knows without video.

[Stealth]

You better learn to hit that ball in the upper third of the strike zone IMHO. Those balls have base hits written all over them. Unless the pitcher throws really hard those balls should be hit.

[shake-n-bake]

Mark thanks for the reply. What exactly is push down disconnect?

He's got a game tonight, so maybe I can get video of him attempting at a high strike.

Overall, I like his swing. It may have some minor flaws that someone with a more trained eye could find, but it's effective and at least mostly sustainable into the future.

That being said, I've suggested a few things that I think will help, but not mess up the progress we've made with his swing too much. The difference is hit and miss so far (figuratively speaking).

I have him opening his stance just a little thinking it'll help him see the pitches a bit better.

Also have him taking a shorter stride (and back toward the plate), hence remaining slightly more upright. This might be good and bad as a taller profile could bring more of the pitches he's having trouble with.

And getting the front elbow up more (he doesn't have bat drag in his swing). And we've also already talked about taking a high pitch early in the count.

There's been some improvement with this. But just like any changes, at least in working with my son, they are difficult to incorporate on a consistent basis right away - takes him time. Shame on me, but guess I'm asking for the silver bullet solution like switch to a different brand of batting gloves or seeds, or something :)

[rkbenn]

I think Mark H is talking about hands to the ball.

SNB, Look at his tilt. I had a hitter just like this. He was tilting the same on all pitches. Great for low balls, but not on plane with the stuff up in the zone.

[shake-n-bake]

Definetly is a result of tilt. Seems like it's hard to put a finger on one particular fault because there's so much interconnectedness. Last year though lack of proper tilt was a problem. His upper half always seemed to be in front of where it should be. His swing plane wasn't good, but ironically he did hit the pitches that were up in the strike zone.

Now after lots of work over the winter he has a pretty nice looking swing, but has this fly in the ointment. I'm wondering if maybe he and I are just overthinking the problem and making something more complicated than it should be. Most kids, regardless of how polished their swing mechanics are or aren't prefer higher pitches.

[dominik]

Don't take this wrong, but just don't swing at those pitches (unless of course you have two strikes). I know that sounds simplistic and a "no duh" (as my boys would put it), but if you (or your son) already have a decent swing, changing it to accommodate a certain pitch may do more harm then good.

This is where a good mental approach or "plan" comes into play at the plate and forcing yourself to only swing at "your pitch" until you have two strikes.
Odds are that within a given AB, you will see "your pitch" or one very near it. Focus on hitting that and force them to figure out that the "upper 1/3" is your weakness when they're pitching to you . . . most pitchers are taught to work down in the zone anyway, so think of it as an advantage and use it in your favor.

I would recommend that too, especially because umpires at high level tend to not give strikes above the belt(esp. in the majors).

When you are clever and crouch a little on such pitches many umpires won't give letter high pitches.

[skipper5]

Probably get myself in trouble here by over-stating my case, but--

It's not clear to me whether the OP's hitter is able to lay off the higher pitches.

If you've got a 12u hitter who handles the lower 2/3 of the zone very well while struggling w/ the upper 1/3, but has an innate ability to lay off the higher pitches and make hay on the lower pitches, I'd consider leaving well enough alone right now.

If this type of hitter progresses to higher levels of the game as a teenager, pitchers try to keep the ball down--where he likes it.

Also, as he gains teenage muscles and refines his connection and tilt, the ability to hit handle the upper 1/3 of the zone may improve naturally. My 2 cents.

[rkbenn]

I do agree with Skip. I would wait till the season is over before messing with him. If it is a tilt issue, the do high tee, low tee work. Front toss, the same. The hardest pitches for kids is low and outside in the zone. This kid has it, that'a a good thing. If I was an opposing coach I would catch this eventually and he would get some high inside stuff.

[shake-n-bake]

I know that my son can lay off those pitches. His eye at the plate is much better than it should be for his own good. At 12U knowing the strike zone and/or being selective can sometimes work against you by putting you behind in the count. Umpires have a tendency to be a little bit liberal, even inconsistent at times with the zone.

A typical K for my son (sucks to even have a typical K for your kid - but hey, he can pitch and play D) - stike one and two are a combination of either fouling a pitch back (a ball that's just a little up in the zone) or watching one go by that's a called strike that's close, but out of the zone and isn't a pitch he wants. Now he's protecting and if it's high - he's probably taking a seat.

It's almost like he's in a need to protect with a one strike count. Of course not every AB goes south like that. He gets enough sweet contact to keep him happy for the most part, and when he hits it - it'll be hard somewhere. Always nice to do better though.

[mightylakers]

Umpires have a tendency to be a little bit liberal, even inconsistent at times with the zone.



Exactly, at youth baseball, the umps are making the calls all over the place so you never know.

Last Friday my son's perfect no strike out season ended with a strike 3 called on a ball hit the home plate in the last regular season game. Oh well. :rolleyes:

[shake-n-bake]

As I was reading the scientific side of hitting thread here, it made me wonder how much he really will be able to just adjust to a high pitch. You guys might be right. Look for his pitches and hit those.

I think he falls into the catagory of high bat velocity/slower to the ball/and hence at the low end of available reaction time. Don't hold my feet to the fire and make me explain this, but I think his size has something to do with it as well. He's not the most agile kid on the field. He's your LL version of Prince Fielder or CC Sabathia - looks a lot like an offensive lineman but could possibly hit an inside the park HR. The catcher might not want to block the plate either.

[scorekeeper]

Exactly, at youth baseball, the umps are making the calls all over the place so you never know.

It’s a shame, but I find that usually the quality of the umpiring is pretty much equivalent to the quality of the players and the coaches. Much of what takes place in baseball is dependent on training and experience, and in general, the best umpires gravitate to the higher levels of the game where the pay is usually far superior.

Last Friday my son's perfect no strike out season ended with a strike 3 called on a ball hit the home plate in the last regular season game. Oh well. :rolleyes:

Just because a ball hits the plate, it doesn’t mean it didn’t pass through the strike zone.

:noidea: :think: :rofl:

[mightylakers]

Just because a ball hits the plate, it doesn’t mean it didn’t pass through the strike zone.

:noidea: :think: :rofl:

You are right, such as in slo pitch soft ball:p

That was a 3-2 fast ball hit the plate.

our coach was even funnier, shouting to the ump, "congratulation, you are the first one to call a strike 3 on him this season"

[shake-n-bake]

Umpiring is such a thankless job. I just want to say that I don't blame them. I know there's some sort of axiom or something that causes them to give better pitchers a smaller strike zone and kids that struggle a little more wiggle room. That's just the way it seems to be, and I've told my son not to look at the umpire as part of the problem (in reality it is sometimes for him, but it's usually across the board so no crying in the breast milk).

I only brought it up because it does make it harder sometimes to go the route of waiting for "your" pitch in 12U.

[Mark H]

I can't read the whole thread right now but I did see Skipper's post and again, I agree.

A push is a form of disconnect/a little hands to the ball. A low front elbow often results in this push being a little bit down. Set the ball shoulder high on a tee and tell him to drive it close to level. Probably really irritate him if this is the problem.

[songtitle]

Start using a stick in the 9 squares of the strike zone. Most kids only hit 2 or 3 squares without practice.

[shake-n-bake]

Start using a stick in the 9 squares of the strike zone. Most kids only hit 2 or 3 squares without practice.

Good idea. We usually go early to the games to get some BP in. My control blows, so I can't intentionally throw him a bunch of consecutive high pitches. I can ask his coach to let me borrow the stick and spend a few minutes before everyone else shows up doing this though.

I've been working to get the front elbow up thinking that was at least part of the problem. It's helping a little. I'll continue to work on that.

H-o-p-e-f-u-l-l-y, I get a decent video clip tonight. Thanks all for the advice you're able to give so far without it.

[shake-n-bake]

Looking like a rain out tonight. So, I think we'll go to the batting cages to get the video. The machine that throws about 55-60 is always high. It's funny because there's a sign that says to advise the staff when the pitches are out of the strike zone, but when my son goes to the desk and tells them they always say that they can't fix it.