Dead Pull Hitters

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Hitter

Banned
Dec 6, 2009
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We do a lot of tee work on the pitch locations, hitting the inside pitch in front of the front foot, the middle pitch even with the front foot and the out side pitch between the legs. We work on the low pitch, pitch down the middle and the high pitch each location with pitches inside,middle and outside.

The outside pitch we work on contact deeper in the strike zone or between the legs. Keep the bellybutton more toward the ball and then extend the bat head more toward the opposite field. We have a practice bat with white tape on the sweat part of bat for feed back on barrel contact.

We do this in the open field not into a net, this gives feed bak on distance and correct conact, if the ball tails away then we hit it too deep in the zone if we hit around the ball then we were too far out front. Some days my daughter hits the inside pitches best and some days the outside pitches better.

Peppers If you mark your net this can be done inside as well. Located your tee 4.5 feet from the net and then I used two different colored ropes and locate one 51 inches and 39 inches horizontally from the floor. I then put a vertical line in the middle of the net. Then depending on the width of the net I use red rags for foul lines by using the plate angles. Then I have tee shirts on what is the third and first base lines so we have an idea where the ball is being hit while indoors. When working out side I place my Schutt tee over home plate and call for an inside pitch to be at a colored line of tape and can predict where the ball should go based on the hitters position to the back corner of home plate that we measured off from.

The 51 inch line represents about 26 degrees and all things relevant a powerful hitter could hit a ball about 325 feet. The 39 inch line will put the ball at about 8 to 10 feet high over second base at 86 feet. We call this our hitting zone and it gives feed back to the hitter as to about what angle they are driving the ball. This too me makes more sense that just hitting a ball and feeling good about just hitting it. We want them to feel good about where they are able to hit it. When hitting off the tee or soft toss they and I can see where the ball should go if everything was done correctly ie tee shirt inside on third base line, vertical line or close to it and first base line tee shirt.

Our tee positions are adjusted from the the hitter measuring off from the back corner of the tee the length of a bat off the outside corner. Then 4 inches in front of the corner is our back corner window of opportunity and 12.5 inches forward of that line is our front edge window of opportunity to hit in. I have a Schutt fold up tee and it is marked with taped lines and various lines to make set up faster and the kids all understand what the lines represent.

If Chris sees this post maybe he can post a picture of what tee looks like.

If they still have it posted the WhipHit web site has a video of one my kids and you can see the lines on the net.

Thanks Howard
 
Last edited:
Sep 3, 2009
675
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How does she do on offspeed pitches?

Swinging a 34/25 Rocket Tech I'm assuming she is a pretty strong girl. That seems a bit heavy for a younger 14 year old. She's still eligible to play 14U this season, right?

I'm wondering if she is swinging too early in order to be on time. The offspeed pitches would reveal that if she's pulling fast pitches.


I thought this as well. The RT being an end-loaded bat, I've read many a story about it altering a swing. And those same hitters swinging a more balanced bat, having no issues at all. I think sometimes, "SOMETIMES" it's from over-compensating. I'm certainly no expert in hitting mechanics, but I've talked to enough people who are, and they are in agreement on this.
 
May 12, 2008
2,214
0
Lots of interesting, experienced and learned conversation in this thread. Good stuff. Now if we could see some game swing video, that might be very productive as relates to this specific hitter. And of course, what does the hitter want? She needs to be on board with the idea of change if it's going to work.
 
Last edited:
Oct 25, 2009
3,345
48
I thought this as well. The RT being an end-loaded bat, I've read many a story about it altering a swing. And those same hitters swinging a more balanced bat, having no issues at all. I think sometimes, "SOMETIMES" it's from over-compensating. I'm certainly no expert in hitting mechanics, but I've talked to enough people who are, and they are in agreement on this.

The RT is a good bat in the hands of a batter that knows how to use it. There hasn't been a RT better than the '04 RT, IMO, though. I've always felt that the end-loaded bats are very similar to baseball bats. Theoretically, the end-loaded bats should allow more of a hammer effect if swung like a baseball bat.

In the discussion here I'm leaning towards the bat being too heavy and causing the batter to have to swing too early in order to be on time and therefore coming around the outside of the ball.

Anytime I hear about a younger kid swinging a heavier bat it makes me wonder. I believe starting with a lighter bat until their mechanics are correct is the best way to go. I've seen too many faulty swings because of too much bat weight.
 
May 5, 2008
358
16
Peppers has a good suggestion.

Good news for you, pull hitters CAN learn to bit with power to opposite field. I was definitely a dead pull j
hitter and never had anyone even try to teach or shoe me how to hit to opposite field until college. By fall my 2nd yr in college I could hit to RF with power.

One thing with most pull hitters is that they don't realize just how far they can let the ball come in. They are so used to jumping on it out in front of them that allowing it go come in deeper is uncomfortable. Tee work can help with this and give them an idea of how "late" they actually contact an outside pitch in order to be able to drive it.

Once I realized as a hitter that my swing doesn't really change for inside pitch vs outside, hitting pitches in different locations to different parts of the field became much simpler. A putting a non-moving ball on tee can help them "see" what's happening on an inside vs outside pitch/swing.

Some players just want to jump on a pitch as soon as the recognize it's pitch to hit. They don't want it to pass them by and they just jump on it because they know they can. Even some easy front toss and have them emphasize hitting it up the middle can bell them realize the timing better.

Also with my daughter - having her pepper the ball off a tee up the middle helped. Of course with tee work, the key is proper placementof the tee. Without that it won't be reinforcing the correct things.

Also, with many pull hitters, first instinct is to move hands away from the body when starting the swing. Then they are swinging "around" the ball making it tough go hit anywhere but go LF.
 
May 12, 2008
2,214
0
Excellent post. But we still have only guesses at what the problem is till we see a representative game video.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
Great ideas here folks. I will try to answer each of your questions, but it may take me a while.

Unfortunately I have no video. My wife dropped our camera in the lake at our last boat trip in the fall. I need to get another so I can post hitting and pitching. I do have a good still pic of her going yard done by a professional photographer, but I can't get it to load. The site keeps asking me for some URL thing. Any suggestions? I'm sure it's simple after the first time but I'm stuck.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
How does she do on offspeed pitches?

Swinging a 34/25 Rocket Tech I'm assuming she is a pretty strong girl. That seems a bit heavy for a younger 14 year old. She's still eligible to play 14U this season, right?

I'm wondering if she is swinging too early in order to be on time. The offspeed pitches would reveal that if she's pulling fast pitches.

The RT is a good bat in the hands of a batter that knows how to use it. There hasn't been a RT better than the '04 RT, IMO, though. I've always felt that the end-loaded bats are very similar to baseball bats. Theoretically, the end-loaded bats should allow more of a hammer effect if swung like a baseball bat.

In the discussion here I'm leaning towards the bat being too heavy and causing the batter to have to swing too early in order to be on time and therefore coming around the outside of the ball.

Anytime I hear about a younger kid swinging a heavier bat it makes me wonder. I believe starting with a lighter bat until their mechanics are correct is the best way to go. I've seen too many faulty swings because of too much bat weight.

She pulls off speed pitches too. But will dig to China on a change up. ( but that's another long thread ) :)

She is strong. She is our ace pitcher so she works her upper body a lot. Yes, this will be our 2nd year of 14U.

As far as the RT goes, I'm not sure if I could ever get her to change. She has tried hand loaded and balanced bats before. She just doesn't care for them. I guess she feels comfortable swinging that big heavy club. And I have heard the RT's are heavier than they claim. I don't know if that is true.

Believe me I am torn, I definitely don't want to mess up her 'stick' just to hit the occasional RT field gap. But I also know she needs to be well rounded, and I have already said when she steps into the batters box they move the outfield back and left. If she pops up even the slightest bit, they got 2 girls covering that area.......OUT.

I have spoken to her about this. She says she just can't WAIT on a good pitch. She claims to be able to 'read' the pitches faster than most, because of her being a pitcher. And that's why she swings early and pulls. ( but that may be a daughter snowing her old man )

I'm still answering other posts too.
 
Oct 25, 2009
3,345
48
She pulls off speed pitches too. But will dig to China on a change up. ( but that's another long thread ) :)

She is strong. She is our ace pitcher so she works her upper body a lot. Yes, this will be our 2nd year of 14U.

As far as the RT goes, I'm not sure if I could ever get her to change. She has tried hand loaded and balanced bats before. She just doesn't care for them. I guess she feels comfortable swinging that big heavy club. And I have heard the RT's are heavier than they claim. I don't know if that is true.

Believe me I am torn, I definitely don't want to mess up her 'stick' just to hit the occasional RT field gap. But I also know she needs to be well rounded, and I have already said when she steps into the batters box they move the outfield back and left. If she pops up even the slightest bit, they got 2 girls covering that area.......OUT.

I have spoken to her about this. She says she just can't WAIT on a good pitch. She claims to be able to 'read' the pitches faster than most, because of her being a pitcher. And that's why she swings early and pulls. ( but that may be a daughter snowing her old man )

I'm still answering other posts too.

I'm still thinking the bat may be a little heavy and contributing to the problem a bit.

Once she is known by the opposing pitchers to be a pull hitter they can get two quick strikes with inside pitches.

A drill we use for outside pitches may help. We set a pitching machine or front tosser about 20' in front of home plate just off center towards the 3rd baseline and throw outside pitches only. We have the batters wait until the ball is at the back hip before swinging and insist on drives to right field.

They hate it a lot in the beginning but only hate it after they start hitting to right field. It is very effective and needs to be done regularly. Don't let her get away with any type of pull during this drill.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
Peppers If you mark your net this can be done inside as well. Located your tee 4.5 feet from the net and then I used two different colored ropes and locate one 51 inches and 39 inches horizontally from the floor. I then put a vertical line in the middle of the net. Then depending on the width of the net I use red rags for foul lines by using the plate angles. Then I have tee shirts on what is the third and first base lines so we have an idea where the ball is being hit while indoors. When working out side I place my Schutt tee over home plate and call for an inside pitch to be at a colored line of tape and can predict where the ball should go based on the hitters position to the back corner of home plate that we measured off from.

The 51 inch line represents about 26 degrees and all things relevant a powerful hitter could hit a ball about 325 feet. The 39 inch line will put the ball at about 8 to 10 feet high over second base at 86 feet. We call this our hitting zone and it gives feed back to the hitter as to about what angle they are driving the ball. This too me makes more sense that just hitting a ball and feeling good about just hitting it. We want them to feel good about where they are able to hit it. When hitting off the tee or soft toss they and I can see where the ball should go if everything was done correctly ie tee shirt inside on third base line, vertical line or close to it and first base line tee shirt.

Our tee positions are adjusted from the the hitter measuring off from the back corner of the tee the length of a bat off the outside corner. Then 4 inches in front of the corner is our back corner window of opportunity and 12.5 inches forward of that line is our front edge window of opportunity to hit in. I have a Schutt fold up tee and it is marked with taped lines and various lines to make set up faster and the kids all understand what the lines represent.

If Chris sees this post maybe he can post a picture of what tee looks like.

If they still have it posted the WhipHit web site has a video of one my kids and you can see the lines on the net.

Thanks Howard

Howard it took me a few times reading your post but it finally sank in. You posts are so precise and full of information, and I thank you for that. I would love to take one of your 'clinics' but I feel this old country boy might need a translator. :)

The hitting coach is working with her on diff tee simulations. ( please don't ask me the names of them ) He also is using soft toss and hard toss drills. All indoors for now because it's very cold here. She is doing better each time, so I guess I can't complain. I am also FWD your post to him, he is a great student of the game and enjoys new ideas just like me.

Thanks again.
 

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