Toes on the line

[JJsqueeze]

Who coaches their players to do this and why? I am not a fan of this approach, works for some girls, will destroy others, I tell my girls to use a distance from the line they feel will let them turn on an inside pitch and still extend to an outside pitch.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

There are reasons to crowd the plate ..... but IMO they generally don't involve the development of good hitting mechanics.

 

[Eric F]

I don't agree with "toes on the line" at all. Especially with the big strike zone often called in younger age groups, this is a good way to have zero chance to make contact on an inside strike.

One thing that I like from Bustos/Carrier is the setup of measuring your position off the plate with the bat on the ground (tip at the opposite edge of the plate, knob at the toe). This seems to be a pretty good position and a good starting point for beginning hitters. That said, my 10yo DD reaches to the far edge of the plate with the tip of her bat (without bending over too far) as her gauge.

 

[riseball]

Who coaches their players to do this and why? I am not a fan of this approach, works for some girls, will destroy others, I tell my girls to use a distance from the line they feel will let them turn on an inside pitch and still extend to an outside pitch.

JJ, please don't go there. Everyone - Get your toes on the line and please move to the back of the box. All the pitchers thank you for your cooperation.

 

[Rocketech1]

I only see this at the younger ages, especially rec leagues, where the girls are small and they are using short bats and can't cover the outside part of the plate. Most rec coaches have the inexperienced pitchers throw outside strike pitches because they are afraid to hit the batter on inside pitches. The only way to get to that outside pitch is to have toes to the line. This thought process goes out the window after 10u IME.

 

[riseball]

I see it occasionally at 18U and even college with some teams. As though they are daring the pitcher to throw inside. If the umpire is decent and will call a dead ball strike you can have a great time with it.

 

[JJsqueeze]

I only see this at the younger ages, especially rec leagues, where the girls are small and they are using short bats and can't cover the outside part of the plate. Most rec coaches have the inexperienced pitchers throw outside strike pitches because they are afraid to hit the batter on inside pitches. The only way to get to that outside pitch is to have toes to the line. This thought process goes out the window after 10u IME.

Yeah....you'd think it would go bye bye as they get older and move out of rec , but I keep hearing it being called out all over the place. Granted the really good coaches don't do it, but I hear it called out enough for me to wonder what they think they are achieving. One of DDs assistant coaches calls it out occasionally, HC never does though. What is the thinking that you will get a HBP? That the pitcher is going to get scared and throw balls? That you cover the outside better? As with most blanket statements, I just don't get it so I was hoping that someone on the board would fess up to doing it and explain why. Now if a pitcher is throwing everything outside sure, get your toes on the line.

 

[riseball]

Yeah....you'd think it would go bye bye as they get older and move out of rec , but I keep hearing it being called out all over the place. Granted the really good coaches don't do it, but I hear it called out enough for me to wonder what they think they are achieving. One of DDs assistant coaches calls it out occasionally, HC never does though. What is the thinking that you will get a HBP? That the pitcher is going to get scared and throw balls? That you cover the outside better? As with most blanket statements, I just don't get it so I was hoping that someone on the board would fess up to doing it and explain why. Now if a pitcher is throwing everything outside sure, get your toes on the line.

I have also seen it done with 2 strikes. The school of thought being that you swing at anything below your hands. If it is well inside you foul it off. It may help some hitters who are the queens of the backwards K.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

This also occurs when the girls are taught to walk up and touch the outside of the plate with their bat. I have my pitchers look for that.

 

[guero_gordo]

Never noticed it as a widely used cue, certainly not from game coaches, but rotational hitters will stand where they can cover the far side of the plate without pushing the hands away from the body.