Can you make a switch hitter in baseball? Or does it come natural?

Question

I want to make my kid a switch hitter, and well its been a struggle, is switch hitting a natural thing, or should I keep up with him hitting on both sides of the plate?

Answer 1

I taught myself to switch-hit playing "sandlot" games.  I am naturally right-handed.  I had more power hitting lefty -- go figure.

Answer 2

you teach anyone anything but thebest switchhitters are all naturals.

Answer 3

Sounds as if he isn't adapting to it. If he's not comfortable from both sides, his dominate side will suffer. Have you ASKED him if he's comfortable? I tried with one of my sons in "T" Ball to get started as a switch hitter, had him alternate right/left with each at bat. When he got to Little League (age 10), he told me he wasn't comfortable hitting left handed. By the way he threw left handed ! So I told him to do what he felt most comfortable. He was a right handed hitter when he played through high school.

Answer 4

sometimes you just gotta let nature set in. I myself am righty however i can hit lefty its jus that the mechanics are exactly opposite with twisting the leg and pulling throught with either the right or left hand. i practice both ways but i 'hit' the ball batting righty and make contact batting lefty. Not every can be coordinated on both sides

Answer 5

most switch hitters had to learn to do it.  i don't think it comes naturally, even for ambidextrous people.

i highly recommend that you make sure you kid is good from one side of the plate first.

the second most important thing is to make the kid learn to turn away from the pitch correctly, that is, turn your face back towards home plate first.  before the kid takes any swing from the other side of the plate, throw a few pitches and make him/her learn to turn away correctly.

Answer 6

Switch hitting can be learned just like anything else. I'm a natural righty but I learned to switch hit. It's hard and takes a lot of work. It's not just going to come over night. It can take years for somebody to learn to do it. Just keep working at it and it will come. I taught myself and I've gotten pretty good at it.