Paticience at the plate

[DRDRODD]

Yes we work on tracking ball from release to catcher's mitt.

I did not read the links that Ken posted but here are my thoughts on vision and is what I have been working with my DD on. I believe trying to track the ball by focusing directly on it is not correct. Using the central/focal vision doesn't give the brain the information needed to recognize speed or movement of an object. Central vision is used more towards noticing fine details and identifying objects. The way I have been working with my DD on this is by trying not to focus on anything while at bat and try to open up her vision so to speak. By not focusing on the ball and opening up your field of vision it will give the brain more information by having a back ground and so on. I have noticed with my DD when she uses her vision this way she even swings the bat differently. When I personally try it myself it feels more like a reaction then a contemplated swing. Just my opinion maybe it's something you can play around with. Good Luck.


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[DiamondDad316]

I did not read the links that Ken posted but here are my thoughts on vision and is what I have been working with my DD on. I believe trying to track the ball by focusing directly on it is not correct. Using the central/focal vision doesn't give the brain the information needed to recognize speed or movement of an object. Central vision is used more towards noticing fine details and identifying objects. The way I have been working with my DD on this is by trying not to focus on anything while at bat and try to open up her vision so to speak. By not focusing on the ball and opening up your field of vision it will give the brain more information by having a back ground and so on. I have noticed with my DD when she uses her vision this way she even swings the bat differently. When I personally try it myself it feels more like a reaction then a contemplated swing. Just my opinion maybe it's something you can play around with. Good Luck.


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Good point. Will try it out this weekend. DD and I have put together a list of things to work on and will definitely try it out. Maybe just changing up our routine will help her make the adjustments.

 

[DiamondDad316]

Here are some thoughts on "keep an eye on the ball:"

Busting Baseball Myths: Scientist Throws Big Curveballs
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/myth-watch-the-ball.202501/
Can I See The Ball Hit the Bat?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrZVRuK77EE

Good information. Will review them with my DD and work on these over the weekend. She's excited to try some different drills.

 

[sbmom19]

That is a tough one that has taken my DD until this year (senior year) to perfect. Our fall ball is spent scrimmaging college teams so going from 60mph+ to the low 50's is a challenge. The hardest thing for my DD to conquer was to NOT slow down her swing because she has really fast hands (on a slow pitcher I used to yell to her to weave a basket or knit a sweater and then swing). During the winter we did a lot of front toss with whiffle golf balls - they die in a hurry so she really has to sit back and wait, then hit them hard and square for them to go anywhere. That has seemed to help a lot. Her TB coach has also modified her load a little bit (hands up and back a bit more) which I think has helped as well.

 

[Cowdogz]

Try front-toss with tennis balls, only you bounce them on the way in.

 

[YOCOACH]

First of all, I apologize if this has already been said since I haven't read the entire thread. Secondly, JMHO, but there are 2 things required to be timed IME. The player has to time the swing, i.e. from load to contact which should be pre-programmed, for lack of a better word, through front toss, half-way-to home drills, etc. etc. The second timing requirement is to actually time the pitch or ball itself. I've had huge success with my teams with this by building, what I call, "the board." I took a 2'x4' sheet of 3/4" plywood and cut an 8" wide horizontal by 18" long vertical rectangular hole in it. Then I proceeded to build a stand out of 2x4's to hold it. The girls only see the balls as they pop out of the hole since they can't see the hand/release of the ball. This forces them to judge the speed and the trajectory of the ball once they actually get eyes on it. Very few of my girls get fooled by change of speed pitches now. If I get a chance to get Pictures to post, I will do so.

 

[Ken B]

Speaking of open focus, imagine these guys trying to thread their needles with narrow focus vs open focus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzeOapSMPvs
https://www.youtube.com/user/mattybikesguitars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-hScJLqLw&t=123s

 

[DRDRODD]

First of all, I apologize if this has already been said since I haven't read the entire thread. Secondly, JMHO, but there are 2 things required to be timed IME. The player has to time the swing, i.e. from load to contact which should be pre-programmed, for lack of a better word, through front toss, half-way-to home drills, etc. etc. The second timing requirement is to actually time the pitch or ball itself. I've had huge success with my teams with this by building, what I call, "the board." I took a 2'x4' sheet of 3/4" plywood and cut an 8" wide horizontal by 18" long vertical rectangular hole in it. Then I proceeded to build a stand out of 2x4's to hold it. The girls only see the balls as they pop out of the hole since they can't see the hand/release of the ball. This forces them to judge the speed and the trajectory of the ball once they actually get eyes on it. Very few of my girls get fooled by change of speed pitches now. If I get a chance to get Pictures to post, I will do so.

Are you instructing your students to be focusing on the opening waiting on the ball to pop out?

 

[YOCOACH]

Are you instructing your students to be focusing on the opening waiting on the ball to pop out?

Not necessarily. I would prefer that they focus more on judging the speed of the ball. That said, one of the reasons I cut the hole only 8" wide is so they can only focus on a certain restricted framework which corresponds with a pitcher's release point. I pretty much pitch about 25MPH from approximately 15 feet away at the fastest and 15 MPH at the slowest. For ball tracking on the periphery and watching it come in we use "Bottle Caps" an awful lot. A friend of mine worked at Lowe's and saved me all of the 5 gallon water jug caps from the water cooler jugs for over a year. I can really make these things dance and can do everything from a scrise to drop curve to a CU. If they don't literally watch them hit the bat they will whiff because they move much more than a SB ever will.

 

[FiveFrameSwing]

Try front-toss with tennis balls, only you bounce them on the way in.

Why do you believe this is helpful?