HR swing with 2 strikes

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Dec 2, 2013
3,410
113
Texas
Interesting story to go along with this thread. Back in 1986 (I was 16), a day that I will remember forever, I hit my one and only over the fence baseball HR. I showed up late to the pre-game warmups, so as punishment coach put me in the 9 spot. When I was in the on deck circle the first base coach said, "Hey why don't just go ahead and take one out of here." Yeah sure whatever. Well first 2 pitches are fouled off and I am already down 0-2. Our coach had always preached when you have 2 strikes you are there to protect the plate. Let's choke up and shorten that swing so you have more control. You will give up some distance for putting the ball in play. I choked up and on the next pitch I took it over the RC fence!!! So much for giving up distance. My next AB I was intentionally walked. Ha!

I have always heard from many coaches to choke up with 2 strikes, and I believe in it as well. I don't think you should be swinging for the fences on every pitch, but I do believe your mechanics should not change either. I would hope that when you are up to bat that your are not swinging out of your cleats every time you swing the bat. Just because you choke up does not mean you are less aggressive, you become less selective. You do not want to leave it up to the umpire to determine your fate.
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
fouling off

My DD must stink....I have never spoke/taught/would even know how about to teach/nor want her/try/good enough to 'foul off pitches' until she gets 'her' pitch. On every swing DD swings to hit the ball. DD isn't good enough to 'foul pitches off' on purpose.:(
I've personally never spent a minute on it either when I work with her. ..
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
Not directed at you nor any one.....just saying I never instructed/coached my DD to 'foul of pitches'. If you can hit it...swing at it. We do work on 'hit the ball where it's pitched' if that counts.

Opps added: I posted before not realizing it was for 'coaches'. I only instruct my DD. I do not coach. So take my post as only a dad not a coach.
 
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Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
agreed

Not directed at you nor any one.....just saying I never instructed/coached my DD to 'foul of pitches'. If you can hit it...swing at it. We do work on 'hit the ball where it's pitched' if that counts.
I agree. Yes. ... hitting the ball where it's pitched is a big part of that. Especially with 2 strikes and you are battleing, you might get that inside pitch or outside pitch that may or may not be called a strike. .. you pull it or poke it foul etc...
You'll see it in the college games. ... the announcer says something like. .. She wasn't quite sure on that pitch so she poked it foul. (Man I hate doing this on my phone! )
Okay I'm out. .. I'll just say battle with two strikes:)
 
Jun 7, 2013
984
0
The important thing about fouling off pitches is that these are marginal pitches and are, hence, very easy to foul off without, specifically, trying. For example if the pitch is just outside off the plate you just have to tick it with your bat to make it a foul ball. This is how you handle marginal pitches until you get one that you can do something with.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
From the perspective of a PC please choke up and crowd the plate with 2 strikes. Because changing the dynamics of your swing will only make whatever pitch is thrown even more effective. The fact that you probably never practice hitting with a 2" shorter bat means the swing you worked so hard to develop will not be what you use when you need it the most. I also strongly recommend that you crowd the plate since that will make an inside pitch perfectly thrown in the river even more difficult to hit. :)
 
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Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
The important thing about fouling off pitches is that these are marginal pitches and are, hence, very easy to foul off without, specifically, trying. For example if the pitch is just outside off the plate you just have to tick it with your bat to make it a foul ball. This is how you handle marginal pitches until you get one that you can do something with.

Great idea. How often is this skill typically included in a hitting workout?
 
Jun 7, 2013
984
0
Great idea. How often is this skill typically included in a hitting workout?

This is, essentially, the "Staying Alive" game that I play with my DDs where we start with a two strike count and they try to stay alive until they get a pitch to hit or take a walk. I have never practiced this with my team. There never seems to be enough time.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
I want my players to take quality cuts reguardless of the count. Every swing is an attempt at a hard line drive (never intentionally swinging for the fence) If she accidentally gets a touch under one and it leaves the park.....oops! But as to the OP, we dont change a thing except for a slight expantion of the zone to protect yourself from an overeager HPU....LOL
 
May 4, 2014
200
28
So Cal
For me telling my daughter to "foul it off if you dont like it" is a way to get her to expand the strike zone on a 2 strike count and swing the bat.. she isnt good enough to choose which pitches to drive and which to foul (if she was she wouldnt be getting into 2 strike situations) - but knowing she can swing even if the pitch isnt "good" helps her mental side...

I think the advice will depend on the type of batter and age...assuming swing skill is equal the mental game plays a big factor:
for the cautious batter that swings for contact we want more aggressiveness when count is less than 2 strikes...for the aggressive fences or nothing batter you want more caution once you get 2 strikes

For a kid that has a great,powerful,eye on ball swing then the count shouldnt matter as far as her swing mechanics - expanding strike zone should be the only adjustment

Yet you have kids that have the "swing for the fences, head in the sky Im going to kill the ball" - until the head stays in watching the ball the best you can do is try to tell them to swing for contact with 2 strikes and that you need the ball in play not over the fence

And you have the kids who are "great contact hitters" but swing slowly to make sure they make contact... until they learn to get their whole body and speed up their swing you can help them by telling them with no strikes (or even 1 strike) you want them swinging fast and aim for a line drive to the fence...

A 2 strikes Im of the camp that for both the slow contact hitter and the whiffing swing for the fences hitter the focus should be on expanding the strike zone and putting the ball in play.. for the "perfect swing" hitter expanding strikezone is the only adjustment needed
 

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