Batting cages...timing the ball?

Question

Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

just shorten up ur swings if you can't hit it with full power

Answer 2

You probably just dont have the bat speed yet or are using a too heavy of a bat. Also if u just bat for fun you probably wont know that the harder you try to swing the slower u will swing! just have a loose relaxed grip, and trust your hands to connect with the baseball. whatever u do, dont guess when the pich will come.

Answer 3

One of the drawbacks hitting in a cage is that you get really accustomed to those particular machines.  When you change speeds it can mess you up, but it's also good practice for you to learn to "make adustments."

The key to speeding up your swing against a machine or live person is not to speed up the "burst" portion of the swing...Instead, you need to speed up the set-up and stride portion of the swing.

Watch the machine.  Get a feel for the time from when the ball drops to when it comes out of the hole.  Time your stride and weight shift so that all that stuff is out of the way before the ball is pitched.

Use the same principles in games.  Watch each pitcher's delivery and build your timing around theirs.

Answer 4

Hitting against a batting machine and hitting against a pitcher are completely different things.  My advice would be to have someone pitch balls to you in a cage (they usually have them at local ball parks), because it is much more realistic (a lot of batting cage machines are very unpredictable in the location of the pitches and many times they throw you balls - which doesn't help your swing).

In regards to hitting against a pitcher throwing in the 80s always keep an eye on the ball (I know it's cliche) and watch the release point when the pitcher is throwing the ball home.  Usually you can pick up the pitch when it is coming towards you (e.g. if the ball has no spin - knuckleball, if you see a circle (i.e. no laces) be prepared for a curveball/cutter, if you see rotation in the ball generally a fastball or changeup).  Sometimes you can also pick up the spin of the ball to detect sliders, forkballs, and so on.  

Tips on hitting a pitcher, is to first look fastball when you are up to bat (much easier to adjust from thinking a fastball is coming and getting a curve ball, then vice versa).  Also be aware of the particular count and what you would expect the pitcher to throw to you.

In regards to hitting, keep your wrists in, don't lunge for the ball, keep your elbows up (don't let them sag), when you swing you are rolling your wrists.  You may also want to look at your feet and where they are at throughout the swing and see if that is effecting your hitting.  Lastly, focus on contact first and your power will eventually come.

Finally, when you are up to bat in a game...Relax, and keep things simple.  

Good Luck!