Thread: Zip-N-Hit???

Anyone have an opinion on the ZIP-N-HIT. You've probably seen it. The softball on two strings that you tie to a pole, then pull apart and the ball "Zips" to the batter at 45 - 50 MPH. It's cheap and I can see it as a possible suppliment in gym practices over winter. The problem I have is that the instructions say "always hit down on the ball" and in fact since you bat is above the string when you start your swing you have to hit down. Anyone find a use for this device? Derick Jeter sure likes it!

I used it for the first time last spring in an early, pre-season practice for 12U rec team. It was a novelty in that it was fun and different (but maybe distracting). Now that I've tried it, I would rather not use it again. Yes it's good for timing, zipping pitches in at 50mph but IMHO,it doesn't encourage the batter to address the ball correctly.

What good is timing if you're topping or popping up the ball?

I like whiffle balls better. Even though I don't use it a lot, I like the Personal Pitcher. It can shoot the ball fast or not and the golfball-size whiffle balls force the batter to focus on a small target. If they can hit those golfballs, they can hit anything!

lhowser, there were some favorable comments on it in my "Upper Cut Swing" thread. You should check it out.

Just throw the directions away and use it ti help keep the barrell of the bat level through the ball and hitting zone.

A couple of issues to watch for:

Ball decelerates a lot coming down the line and can cause timing issues which can lead to:

Players figuring out that if that lay the bat on the line and swing they will make better contact as opposed to having a swing plane that is perpendicular to the spine. Basically, it can/may promote a level to the ground swing.

I've noticed players who over use this tool have trouble hitting squarely on the ball. We noticed an increase in poorly hit grounders.

my strings kept breaking so i retired it.