Pure barrels or cut!

[Bobby Shirer]

If you hit a ball 1" below center is that a rocket out of the park or a del monte cream style 'can of corn'?



The hand closest to the barrel of the bat.

Ima guess it's about a 25-30 degree angle of incidence, so I'll say that's the rocket.

What's the relationship you're noticing and when?

 

[julray]

Yeah I hear you but I am not even sure the sort of focus which supposedly is better when hitting ("soft" focus?) to use while hitting is even conducive to attempting to pick up the ball like that but whatever.

If you are reading me correctly here pattar I am agreeing with you . I just tried to hit the ball. Regards to focusing on spin and making any kind of calculated adjustment .. good luck! Hitting a baseball is not like tennis. If I see my opponent hit a slice stroke I know the ball will float and there will be very little bounce, if they hit top spin then the ball will arc down and kick with a big hop. The difference is I know what's coming due to my opponents stroke.. not the same in baseball/softball. I have no idea what's coming and trying to read the spin is virtually impossible.

I'm just saying if it's the hitters approach to actually make an attempt to hit a certain part of the ball, then I would be trying to hit just below center.

 

[_MIA_]

If you are reading me correctly here pattar I am agreeing with you .

I know, I was just talking in general..I guess I shouldn't have really responded to you

 

[Bobby Shirer]

At the same time reading a line drive hit right at you with back spin in the outfield can be a nightmare. I don't know how many times I've seen outfielders charge a ball only to see it sail right over their head.

First step is back. Don't attack a line drive until you can see the top of it's arc. A good outfielder never turns a solid base hit into a triple.

 

[Cannonball]

I am late to the party but some of the comments on adjusting etc. were not what I did. I could hit. I was horrible in the field. I got to play at the next level due to that bat. One thing I absolutely didn't do was think when I was in the box. Sure I thought outside of the box. I wanted to see white and react. Maybe that is why I didn't play pro. (Ok I was terrible and that is probably why. Still I can lie to myself now since I am old.)

 

[julray]

First step is back. Don't attack a line drive until you can see the top of it's arc. A good outfielder never turns a solid base hit into a triple.

That's good advice .. I've played outfield all my life and was decent. Naturally for me reading ball flight wasn't an issue, rarely fooled and was good at predetermining where the ball would land.. I couldn't pick up a grounder to save my life though, LOL

 

[Cannonball]

My aim was off so made the adjustment.. When bunting are you not aiming for a certain part of the ball ?

I don't know how you learned to bunt but I was taught and I teach to catch the ball with the hand. The bat is in the way. So, that is a lot different than a swing.

 

[_MIA_]

I don't know how you learned to bunt but I was taught and I teach to catch the ball with the hand. The bat is in the way. So, that is a lot different than a swing.

Me too...and since I hated bunting most of the time I wanted to catch it and then throw it at the coach who gave me the sign to bunt..

 

[_MIA_]

I couldn't pick up a grounder to save my life though, LOL

Playing IF is a lot about rhythm and timing which is strange since I was a good IF but cannot dance to save my life

 

[Bobby Shirer]

In a cut swing the barrel continues straight through or slightly under the ball path after impact. The ball will rise at a steep angle off of the bat with a butt load of back spin (slightly below dead center). On a full barrel swing the barrel follows the path of the ball after impact with some or little to no spin (dead center). You can also tell a cut swing because the instant after impact the bat still has a downward point even though it has started up.

Easier to see this in slow pitch as the ball has a large downward arch. However the guys don't hit the ball in a true barrel sense ie: matching plane.

Bonds is a cut swing:



These are pure barrel as posted before.

I don't know James. It looks like both the Bonds and Donaldson swings are on plane with the pitch or slightly upward across the pitch path but they make contact well below the center of the ball creating the steep angle off the bat. Draw a line from the ball to the catchers mitt and trace the swing plane.
IMHO