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Jun 8, 2016
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Not quite. A softball riseball will enter the zone higher than its release point. A baseball high strike will have a downward trajectory from start to finish. In baseball, a slightly upward barrel path may match the plane of a high strike pitch. This may not be the case with a softball riseball.

Probably (a lot) easier said than done, but would a good strategy on riseballs be just to lay off them? How many called strikes are there on properly (as in location) thrown riseballs? Can a good
hitter pick up the spin on riseballs?

Probably showing my naivete regarding fastpitch here :p
 
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Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Not quite. A softball riseball will enter the zone higher than its release point. A baseball high strike will have a downward trajectory from start to finish. In baseball, a slightly upward barrel path may match the plane of a high strike pitch. This may not be the case with a softball riseball.

The overwhelming balls thrown that are still increasing in altitude as they cross the plate are 'balls' and not 'strikes'.
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Probably (a lot) easier said than done, but would a good strategy on riseballs be just to lay off them? How many called strikes are there on properly (as in location) thrown riseballs? Can a good
hitter pick up the spin on riseballs?

Probably showing my naivete regarding fastpitch here :p

It is generally better to zone where you would like to hit, than to un-zone where you would like to not hit. In the case of a pitcher that can not throw a strike to the high part of zone ... "zone that pitcher low" is preferred to "layoff pitches high".

On the topic of riseballs thrown for a strike ... a good riseball pitcher can throw the pitch for a strike, albeit the pitch is unlikely to still be 'rising' as it crosses the plate.

As for picking up the spin ... I advise against that. Instead maintain a relaxed open focus. It is more important to see the ball's trajectory than it is to see the ball ... if that makes any sense.
 
Sep 17, 2009
1,637
83
As for picking up the spin ... I advise against that. Instead maintain a relaxed open focus. It is more important to see the ball's trajectory than it is to see the ball ... if that makes any sense.

This is an interesting take. I've never faced a riseball, but hitting a curveball (baseball) is much the same, you don't zero in on the spin but rather see where it starts and where it's headed, get a feel for the speed (off-speed) and the body will learn to sense how the ball is moving rather than some sort of see-spin-determine-end-point calculation, IMO.

Also, I know it's been shown riseballs don't 'jump' but if you've ever caught a riseball pitcher, the different spin and the lack of *as much of* a downward trajectory can give the feeling of an "upward trajectory", again IMO.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
This is an interesting take. I've never faced a riseball, but hitting a curveball (baseball) is much the same, you don't zero in on the spin but rather see where it starts and where it's headed, get a feel for the speed (off-speed) and the body will learn to sense how the ball is moving rather than some sort of see-spin-determine-end-point calculation, IMO.

Also, I know it's been shown riseballs don't 'jump' but if you've ever caught a riseball pitcher, the different spin and the lack of *as much of* a downward trajectory can give the feeling of an "upward trajectory", again IMO.

I agree about hitting curveballs in baseball, I never tried to pick up the spin but there is a lot more trajectory change for those than there would be for riseballs I would think.
 

Chris Delorit

Member
Apr 24, 2016
343
28
Green Bay, WI
Not quite. A softball riseball will enter the zone higher than its release point. A baseball high strike will have a downward trajectory from start to finish. In baseball, a slightly upward barrel path may match the plane of a high strike pitch. This may not be the case with a softball riseball.

Hi Eric,

You're correct that a rise ball in softball should not equate to a high fastball in baseball, unless the spin is missed at release, which certainly does occur at every level. Also, your correct in that an upward barrel path is generally not an optimum path in contact with a rise ball, and especially not with a pitch location that is mid-to-high through the stike zone.

Chris
 
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Chris Delorit

Member
Apr 24, 2016
343
28
Green Bay, WI
Probably (a lot) easier said than done, but would a good strategy on riseballs be just to lay off them? How many called strikes are there on properly (as in location) thrown riseballs? Can a good
hitter pick up the spin on riseballs?

Probably showing my naivete regarding fastpitch here :p

Great questions pattar.

I'll try to answer your questions briefly....

1) Yes, sometimes alot easier said than done. And no, it's not always the right strategy to lay off of a rise ball. It depends on location relative to the strike zone, give or take other situational variables.
2) A properly thrown rise ball is dependant on spin. Location is a seperate ability to hit a spot or area with a ball pitched with that spin.
3) Yes, and it's an advantage that can help a player to become more successfull at contact with the rise ball (and other pitches), and also can help the hitter to be more selective with laying off those pitches as well.

Chris
 
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Chris Delorit

Member
Apr 24, 2016
343
28
Green Bay, WI
I agree about hitting curveballs in baseball, I never tried to pick up the spin but there is a lot more trajectory change for those than there would be for riseballs I would think.

You'd be surprised.

But yes, trajectory in baseball covers a longer path distance at a generally slower pace of pitch speed corrected for comparison. So, you're seeing the pitch develop over a longer period of time. There's very little comparison between a men's 88 mph baseball curveball from 60.6 and a 80 mph rise ball at 46 ft. The advantage in reaction time is in the baseball player's favor. This is why you hear about the advantage in picking pitches and reading seam rotation in fastpitch, because there is less reaction time to trajectory.

Chris
 
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