Too much elevation on hitts to outfield - "getting under it?"

Appease me. The next time you are performing BP and hitting into a field, and notice excessive elevation on the ball, make a modification in your swing and place more emphasis with your top hand. Try it for a few swings and see if the trajectory of the ball lowers. Report back.

I agree it is the top hand, or elbow as it slots, getting ahead of the top hand in most cases.

FiveFrameSwing said:

Appease me. The next time you are performing BP and hitting into a field, and notice excessive elevation on the ball, make a modification in your swing and place more emphasis with your top hand. Try it for a few swings and see if the trajectory of the ball lowers. Report back.

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FFS,

I'm curious, what do you mean "place emphasis with your top hand"? What is the batter doing with the top hand that would cause high pop ups? Is it a grip issue?

sru said:

FFS,

I'm curious, what do you mean "place emphasis with your top hand"? What is the batter doing with the top hand that would cause high pop ups? Is it a grip issue?

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SRU ... I have two different theories that explain this.

For now, I'll ask that you simply run some quick experiments and verify this on your own.

First ... this is not a "tee drill" ... in other words, don't place a ball on a tee and expect this to work. This drill needs to be performed with the ball coming at the hitter "head on".

During a BP session, if a hitter gets into a routine of getting too much 'air' on a ball (too much elevation), then demand that the hitter place a higher level of emphasis on using their "top hand". Without getting into the theory, this will have them getting the barrel of the ball higher up on their prediction of where the ball is ... the result should be square contact being made with the flight of the ball having less air.

If on the other hand the hitter is routinely hitting grounders, or balls with too little elevation, then demand that they place a higher emphasis on their bottom-hand. This will result in having the barrel of ball arrive lower than their prediction ... the result should be square contact being made with the flight of the ball having more air.

The hitter should always be attempting to "square" the ball. You should be able to demonstrate to a hitter that "they" control the flight of the ball ... through adjustments in hand emphasis, they can make significant changes in ball trajectory.

Don't be surprised if a hitter makes too great of a change at first. With a little practice a hitter can make fine adjustments and more easily learn to control the flight of the ball.

This could get into a detailed discussion ... but I'd like to cut it short and ask that you simply experiment with it and verify it on your own.