"Let the Ball get deep"...good cue for outside pitch?

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Sep 29, 2008
1,401
63
Northeast Ohio
I often hear the advice on hitting an outside pitch - "Let the ball get deep". Is it reasonable to think a player can judge a depth difference of about 8" of an object traveling at 55 mph. Are the real issues involved in hitting the outside pitch bat angle and limiting hip and upper torso rotation. Just trying to keep it real with my players. What are your thoughts?
 
Jun 16, 2010
259
28
Theres a little more to it than letting it get deep. You dont rotate on it as much as you do a normal or inside pitch. You intentionally drive it to the opposite field. Deeper is just the place to do that from. It doesnt simply happen as a consequence of allowing it to get deep. If you just swing at it deeper with exactly the same swing as normal (in front of plate) , you wouldnt yet have the hands or bat in the right position and you would lack power.

If a player tries to reach for it out front and doesnt have the reach, they will hit it off the end of the bat with little power By letting it get deeper, and closer, you can hit it on the sweet spot. But you cant drive it up the middle that way, so focus on taking it to opposite field.

There are tall and athletic girls for who it doesnt matter. I have seen some that can go get any pitch anywhere close, not even over plate, and put it over the fence.
 
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Oct 4, 2010
27
0
I agree with linivnontheroad: The only way to hit the outside pitch is to let it get deep. That is why the most effective pitch away is the off-speed pitch. It is harder to stay back on and since you have to do that even longer--- an out. If a right handed hitter tries to pull this pitch it is a roll over ground ball to short. It is the same swing, just later to allow the ball to contact the sweet spot on the barrell. To try and hit it without letting it get deep can also produce something off the cap.
 
Jan 14, 2009
1,591
0
Atlanta, Georgia
"Let the ball get deep", is another way of saying "wait". It's the opposite of "you have to be quick" to hit the inside pitch. IMO, it's more about timing than mechanics. The mechanics will take care of themselves if the outside pitch is properly timed.

As a hitter you want to think "inside pitch - quick" and "outside pitch - slow". I don't mean slow as in a "slow swing". Slow as in how you time your load.
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I have my girls do Tee work and move it to the outside and see where and how they need to hit it there. ( I do the same thing with inside, too.)
When they know how it feels to swing and hit a ball on the outside corner, then it becomes a matter of pitch recognition and timing.

I don't work with any girls that I can tell to "let it get deep". they do understand swinging a little later though. I'm used to talking in terms that men understand and I need to adjust for the girls. It always comes down to semantics- find the words that work for your girls.
 
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