Where to stand in the batters box?

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Batperson

Coach
Jun 12, 2010
6
0
MA
Michelle is a very accomplished pitcher ... and while she loves to quote a lot of good information, she still hasn't shaken such concepts. For example, she still believes her rise ball can magically get close to plate and then suddenly jump skyward ... which doesn't happen.

Here's Michelle throwing her famous "rise-ball" ... and like all good rise-balls, it flattens out.

MichelleSmith_riseball.gif

Notice the riseball is out of the strike zone when it flattens out so why try to hit it! Rather see my batters in front of box so it and other breaking pitches are nearer to batters wheelhouse. Coached U18 for 9 yrs., better hitters were all up in box!
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Notice the riseball is out of the strike zone when it flattens out so why try to hit it! Rather see my batters in front of box so it and other breaking pitches are nearer to batters wheelhouse. Coached U18 for 9 yrs., better hitters were all up in box!

Makes sense to be "up in the box" when facing a pitcher predominately throwing screw-balls and curve-balls. Doesn't make a lot of sense when facing a pitcher that predominately throws rise-balls.

I had my "perfect games" when the opposing team responded to rise-balls by moving up in the box ... which resulted in me calling for more rise-balls.

If a rise-ball is going to be thrown for a 'strike', then the odds are good that it will level off. If a pitcher throws predominately rise-balls, then being deeper in the box places you at an advantage of attacking a pitch that has flattened out ... if it is indeed a strike.
 
Aug 4, 2008
2,364
0
Lexington,Ohio
Without getting into the rise ball debate. I have seen so many videos of the rise ball, that coaches have no idea how to hit it. It does not go up, but you are at the top of the box it is a ball, but could be a strike as it goes over the plate, since the spin doesn't allow it to drop as much as a fast ball. Same with a curve on the hands at the top of the box, but could be a strike when it goes over the plate. Watch elite softball players, and see where the stand. Bustos doesn't stand or teach top of the box? We teach a neutral position so you can hit any pitch. Moving kids in the box is trying to fix a swing fault instead of fixing what is wrong with the swing. Worked with a 12 year old last night. Typical in that she was a powerful kid that the coaches had her in the top of the box and she pulled everything. They kept getting her a heavy bat and moving up to face slow pitching. It was her rotation issue and not having her hips going forward first . After that fix she hit line drive after line drive up the middle. You could see her eyes and parents eyes light up.
 

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