What's the difference? Why is it better to time the ball?
Timing the ball vs. timing the pitcher
- Thread starter CoogansBluff
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I am not sure I understand the distinction you are making.
Ball moves around alot, pitcher's lower body does not?
Ball moves around alot, pitcher's lower body does not?
Seeking clarity on the distinction. I don't understand it either. ... I've just heard the point made here that it's better to think of timing the ball rather than the pitcher. Would like to understand that better. I'll see if I can't find some quotes on what I'm talking about.
Here's something that FFS posted a while back --
Would love to hear more discussion on timing the pitcher to stride and timing the ball to swing. Or maybe it can't be any more simple than that.
But I want to be able to help DD with that. She tends to time purely off the pitcher, so naturally struggles w/ speeds that are 'too fast' or 'too slow'. Needs to be in her comfort zone.
Would love to hear more discussion on timing the pitcher to stride and timing the ball to swing. Or maybe it can't be any more simple than that.
But I want to be able to help DD with that. She tends to time purely off the pitcher, so naturally struggles w/ speeds that are 'too fast' or 'too slow'. Needs to be in her comfort zone.
DD does not sit in the on deck circle taking lazy swings, she watches the P and takes a few good cuts until she think she knows when to start her swing.
In my opinion you need to time both. You need to time the pitcher first. This allows you (or helps you) get in sequence. This process begins in the on dock circle as quincy stated. Then once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, you time the ball. But by that point, you have already started to move. I am at work so I don't have access to my gifs, but go to NOONTIME BASEBALL | HEY BATTER BATTER… GIF BATTER! and select the pattern and sequence group. Watch the pitchers and see when the hitters lift their front foot.
When I say 'time the pitcher,' I don't mean what you do in the batting circle, although as FP states, maybe it starts there.
But, I'm talking more specifically about the art of timing while in the batter's box. It's the idea that the pitcher dictates when you load and stride, but the ball dictates getting the front foot down and launching the swing. I get that well enough to express it, but not sure I get it well enough to execute it (or pass it along to a young hitter). Not sure what it feels like, if that makes sense.
Thanks, FP. Will check out Noontime.
Last edited:
- Jul 21, 2015
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Time the pitcher, then time the ball. You have to do both.
Timing the pitcher simply means you're getting your swing started on time...coiling/loading (which, in fastpitch or baseball will almost always begin before the pitcher releases the ball) so that you can be at the proper point in your sequence when the ball arrives.
Timing the pitcher simply means you're getting your swing started on time...coiling/loading (which, in fastpitch or baseball will almost always begin before the pitcher releases the ball) so that you can be at the proper point in your sequence when the ball arrives.
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- Feb 7, 2013
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Both. Howard Carrier had a great observation that batters should "dance with the pitcher" as the pitcher goes into their windmill motion prior to release. At release, the batter should expect the fastest pitch to a certain location but adjust to the off-speed.
I think timing the pitcher lets you know when to begin the sequence. It's figuring out when to begin a slow load that happens every time, on every pitch. At minimum, I'd like the kids to start coil/load as the ball passes over the head in the circle. This happens on every pitch:
For me, timing the ball is the adjustment made just after the ball is released when the hitter is thinking "hit, hit, yes" or "hit, hit, check." I really like Carrier's "dance" because it helps get the body into rhythm with the pitcher.
For me, timing the ball is the adjustment made just after the ball is released when the hitter is thinking "hit, hit, yes" or "hit, hit, check." I really like Carrier's "dance" because it helps get the body into rhythm with the pitcher.
