Strike Zone

Hitter

New Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2014
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Points
0
USA Today ran the article about the 10 hardest things to do in sports....number one is hitting a baseball. Take it up with USA today.

Maybe Suzy should change hitting coaches also.

Never said they could be a Crystl Bustos however if you are not practicing enough using good techniques who knows what you could be or do.

You may want to read the Talent Code by Daniel Coyle for more insight as to how to practice and introduce Suzy to the methods some of the best in the world use.

Using a proper sequence as to hitting is not understood by many as is throwing also or how the female body works. Even at the clinics we NEVER had a coach male or female even be able to explain how to balance or even test for it in 12 years....I guess Suzy's hitting coach was not there.

All of our hitters learn vision drills so they can understand how to track the ball and improve the six extra ocular muscles used for convergence or accommodation coordination. Look up the Sports Illustration Article on Hitter Rule by Tom Verduci from 2002 for more insight. Also take the Dr. Bill Harrison clinic on vision training, I really enjoyed it and I am sure Suzy would also.

Can Suzy catch two tennis balls thrown at the same time with with the left and right hand? Then can she catch the balls when we cross the balls when thrown?

You make it sound difficult and if you do understand the process how would you know what you do or not appear to know.

Doing the same thing over and over without changing the process and expecting different results is insanity per Albert Einstein.

How many times have you actually heard clinics put on by Pat Murphy or were able to ask him questions? Tell Suzy to go to one of his camps.

Until Dick Fosbury went over the high jump backwards no one thought high jumping could be done any other way however do not tell Suzy that either.

Should girls swing like girls or like an athlete? Until around 1998, it was frowned upon to teach girls how to hit like boys because they can not do it. I am glad I did not listen to the critics.

In my opinion how and what we teach works and we are going to disagree.....do you have any students that share your ideas or concepts?

Howard
 

ApogeeDemon

In the Penalty Box
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Paris
USA Today ran the article about the 10 hardest things to do in sports....number one is hitting a baseball. Take it up with USA today.

Maybe Suzy should change hitting coaches also.

Never said they could be a Crystl Bustos however if you are not practicing enough using good techniques who knows what you could be or do.

You may want to read the Talent Code by Daniel Coyle for more insight as to how to practice and introduce Suzy to the methods some of the best in the world use.

Using a proper sequence as to hitting is not understood by many as is throwing also or how the female body works. Even at the clinics we NEVER had a coach male or female even be able to explain how to balance or even test for it in 12 years....I guess Suzy's hitting coach was not there.

All of our hitters learn vision drills so they can understand how to track the ball and improve the six extra ocular muscles used for convergence or accommodation coordination. Look up the Sports Illustration Article on Hitter Rule by Tom Verduci from 2002 for more insight. Also take the Dr. Bill Harrison clinic on vision training, I really enjoyed it and I am sure Suzy would also.

Can Suzy catch two tennis balls thrown at the same time with with the left and right hand? Then can she catch the balls when we cross the balls when thrown?

You make it sound difficult and if you do understand the process how would you know what you do or not appear to know.

Doing the same thing over and over without changing the process and expecting different results is insanity per Albert Einstein.

How many times have you actually heard clinics put on by Pat Murphy or were able to ask him questions? Tell Suzy to go to one of his camps.

Until Dick Fosbury went over the high jump backwards no one thought high jumping could be done any other way however do not tell Suzy that either.

Should girls swing like girls or like an athlete? Until around 1998, it was frowned upon to teach girls how to hit like boys because they can not do it. I am glad I did not listen to the critics.

In my opinion how and what we teach works and we are going to disagree.....do you have any students that share your ideas or concepts?

Howard

Ordering books from Amazon doesn't make you a scholar. I have read the talent code. Some of hitting is born talent. Google Lorenzo Cain. MLB player that didn't start playing until a sophomore in High School. Now a MLB player. Your "go to card" is always Crystal Bustos. If Crystal did it, you can too. Hogwash. Crystal can do this, Crystal can do that... Good for Crystal! That's why she was an Olympian. Suzy is not Crystal. Nobody is limiting her by not expecting her to hit a homerun off a ball that bounces off the dirt. But Crystal did it! I have heard Pat Murphy many times. So what!? I wouldn't say, well Jaclyn Traina did it, so you should too! Pat signs the phenoms every year. Matter of fact, when Pat signed Traina, he called his mom and said, well mom, I get to keep my job for at least 4 more years, I signed a pitcher. He knew she was special. The original poster was stating that umps can at times be very inaccurate with their strike zones. I'm sure Crystal can hit a pitch 6-8 inches off the plate. Halalula good for her. But to say, Suzy, you could do it, too, you just need more practice and a new hitting coach because Crystal can do it, is ridiculous.
 

Hitter

New Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2014
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Live with Suzy and be the turtle in the shell. :cool:
 

ApogeeDemon

In the Penalty Box
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Paris
Live with Suzy and be the turtle in the shell. :cool:

Free your mind! Im very happy for you and Crystal. Crystal was probably the best hitter of all time. I have opinions, so do you, I respect your opinions. But you have to remember, sometimes you meet people with different views. Im sure you were surprised that I have met Pat M many times and have spoken with him extensively. Did you know Pat spent much of his off season visiting a college baseball coach? That team was destroying the ball. He visited them to learn what they were doing. Ask him yourself if you don't believe me. He told me about that personally. We are always looking to improve hitting. In my opinion, we all want the best for our players but sometimes our own egos get in the way because we think our way is always the best. I try and keep an open mind. Remember, the turtle beat the hare! :)
 

Hitter

New Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2014
Messages
44
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Data walks and BS talks in my opinion and in the fantasy world the turtle always wins based on your perspective and how you want the story to end.

Reality will eventually take over.

Based on my data I will run the race (if you choose to look at it that way) with the data that it works and the kids have proven it and folk lore has its time and place and Suzy will.............please share your techniques as I am always willing to learn.

Howard
 

ApogeeDemon

In the Penalty Box
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Paris
Data walks and BS talks in my opinion and in the fantasy world the turtle always wins based on your perspective and how you want the story to end.

Reality will eventually take over.

Based on my data I will run the race (if you choose to look at it that way) with the data that it works and the kids have proven it and folk lore has its time and place and Suzy will.............please share your techniques as I am always willing to learn.

Howard

The truth, you want someone to post something about hitting so you can try and look like you are superior because you ordered books on Amazon and listened to someone else besides yourself talk about balance. Just keep talking about Bustos, that's what you do.
 

Westler33

Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Messages
511
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
Marion Ohio
Man things are heating up again I thought this time of year things cooled down. lol WOW!
 

ApogeeDemon

In the Penalty Box
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Paris
Man things are heating up again I thought this time of year things cooled down. lol WOW!

lol, ya, I just try and post an opinion, and some people on here can't accept that. Some people seem to think Hitter speaks the gospel. I think that has inflated his ego. I know Hitter is a good person and does amazing things for girls but seems to get VERY defensive if you don't accept his views. Anyone can name drop. Bustos this, Lisa Fernandez this, bla bla bla. I think debates are healthy. Some people on here have been worshiped for so long, they have a god complex. This isn't against Hitter, I know about his successes and the garage workouts. I'm just trying to offer an alternative opinion. Even if I'm the only one :)
 

Ri-domination

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Messages
229
Reaction score
0
Points
16
USA Today ran the article about the 10 hardest things to do in sports....number one is hitting a baseball. Take it up with USA today.

Maybe Suzy should change hitting coaches also.

Never said they could be a Crystl Bustos however if you are not practicing enough using good techniques who knows what you could be or do.

You may want to read the Talent Code by Daniel Coyle for more insight as to how to practice and introduce Suzy to the methods some of the best in the world use.

Using a proper sequence as to hitting is not understood by many as is throwing also or how the female body works. Even at the clinics we NEVER had a coach male or female even be able to explain how to balance or even test for it in 12 years....I guess Suzy's hitting coach was not there.

All of our hitters learn vision drills so they can understand how to track the ball and improve the six extra ocular muscles used for convergence or accommodation coordination. Look up the Sports Illustration Article on Hitter Rule by Tom Verduci from 2002 for more insight. Also take the Dr. Bill Harrison clinic on vision training, I really enjoyed it and I am sure Suzy would also.

Can Suzy catch two tennis balls thrown at the same time with with the left and right hand? Then can she catch the balls when we cross the balls when thrown?

You make it sound difficult and if you do understand the process how would you know what you do or not appear to know.

Doing the same thing over and over without changing the process and expecting different results is insanity per Albert Einstein.

How many times have you actually heard clinics put on by Pat Murphy or were able to ask him questions? Tell Suzy to go to one of his camps.

Until Dick Fosbury went over the high jump backwards no one thought high jumping could be done any other way however do not tell Suzy that either.

Should girls swing like girls or like an athlete? Until around 1998, it was frowned upon to teach girls how to hit like boys because they can not do it. I am glad I did not listen to the critics.

In my opinion how and what we teach works and we are going to disagree.....do you have any students that share your ideas or concepts?

Howard

Good post!
 

Cankles

New Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Points
0
After reading these responses, I think I have it figured out. It appears we have 2 schools of thought. Proactive, take control of our own destiny approach (Hitter). Reactive, wait for some else to make a decision approach (Apogee).
 

CARDS

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
1,311
Reaction score
349
Points
83
Location
COLERAIN
Website
www.wearecolerain.com
Strike Zone and Hitting approach has been one of the more consistent year in year out threads.

One of the best umpired tournaments we played in was at 14U 2007 in Gallatin Tenn. Before each game the umpires had two game balls at home plate. One was placed on the true corner where the majority of the ball was off the plate. The other placed about 1/4" off the plate and noticeably closer to the batters box. Home Plate umpire said this is a ball this is a strike. This is something I think should be done every game at the younger ages. It can help parents as well.

Most hitting coaches teach the strike zone and use ball tracking drills so the ladies understand how to approach hitting the inside and outside pitch where the majority of the ball is off the plate. Part of that training as Pete Rose has said is understanding the geometry of hitting. A lot of ladies do not understand a 12" softball is almost 4" wide and that if an umpire has a liberal or pitchers zone they take the white 17" inch plate and give the black, plus the ball and now that strike is almost 5" off the plate.
There are a ton of ladies that do not understand the geometry of hitting or the areas/advantages of their hitting equipment. I have worked with travel and HS male and female hitters and somewhere down the line this instruction was delivered to the boys but not the girls. In order for the ladies to understand the difference between a hacker and a hitter IMO this has to be part of the first lessons.

Many coaches cringe when they see the ladies hitting off a tee placed in the center of the plate and strike ball after ball never working on the outer and inner part of the strike zone or adjusting up and down.
As the ladies face the better teams at any level the pitchers are trained to stay out of the red zone. This is where a pitchers plate can help batters as well. Howard gives excellent drills working up and down in the strike zone that we have used for a few years. Now I am not saying the ladies need to be trained to be a hacker and swing at everything but they do need to be able to expand their hitting zone in, out, up, down and be able to get to contact to put a ball in play. We do a lot of different drills to help the ladies improve their chances of fair ball placement at contact including video tape so they can see what they are doing correct and incorrect.
As far as hitting styles, I lean more to what was taught to me when I was young and that is very close to what Howard uses however; knowing the absolutes needed for hitting over the years I have seen many young ladies and men that are very good hitters with solid foundations but are utilizing a variety of hitting approaches that fit the batter resulting in success at all levels.
 
Last edited:

Hilliarddad3

Active Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2014
Messages
423
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Yeah but the black is not a part of the plate and if an ump tells you that he's calling it before a game that would be an issue for me.....like saying a puck hitting hockey post is a goal.......
 

CARDS

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
1,311
Reaction score
349
Points
83
Location
COLERAIN
Website
www.wearecolerain.com
Yeah but the black is not a part of the plate and if an ump tells you that he's calling it before a game that would be an issue for me.....like saying a puck hitting hockey post is a goal.......

The fields where the NSA umpires did this were some of the finest fields we have ever played on. MLB quality with no black showing on the side of the plate so they were true corner strikes.

Although, I know what you mean. We were playing in one of the bigger showcase events in Columbus Ohio a few years back where an umpire did exactly as you described. When asked if he was calling the black he said isn’t it part of the plate…
 

Fairman

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2014
Messages
399
Reaction score
16
Points
18
When the inside of the ball touches the outside edge of the white, most umps will call that a strike; a ball doesn't have to be completely inside the strike zone to be a strike; hence a ball that is kissing the white inside or out has made the strike zone two balls wider.

This call is clearly in the spirit of the game when any part of the foul pole is fair, even if just a small piece of the ball touches it as it sails by or just a tiny puff of chalk when the ball lands on the edge foul line.

A ball that is completely inside the strike zone.......
............................................... we call those pitches; doubles.
 
Last edited:
Top