| One of the most important baseball tips on hitting | | | | about ten at bats per week. Out of those ten at |
| is that you must learn how to recognize a curve | | | | bats, you see about one curve per at bat, which |
| ball as quickly as possible. Recognizing a curve ball | | | | is about ten per week. I strongly suggest that to |
| quickly is not an easy thing to do. Hitting a well | | | | improve at recognizing a curve quicker, you must |
| located curve is not easy either. That's why you | | | | see more than ten per week. If you are serious |
| will hear the expression, "he's a good fastball | | | | about baseball hitting and having better at bats |
| hitter" ten times for every one time you will hear, | | | | against the curve ball, here is what I highly |
| "he's a good curve ball hitter." I'm well aware that | | | | recommend you do. |
| part of that is because there are many more | | | | 1. Whenever you have batting practice with your |
| fastballs being thrown, so of course more fastballs | | | | team, ask your pitcher to mix in some curve balls |
| will be hit harder. But I'm also well aware that the | | | | during your last ten or twelve swings. |
| movement on the curve makes baseball hitting | | | | 2. If one of your pitchers is pitching batting |
| much more difficult and the slower speed disrupts | | | | practice, stand behind the backstop and practice |
| timing. The quicker you can recognize that it's the | | | | trying to recognize his curve ball as quickly as |
| curve that the pitcher is throwing, the better | | | | possible. |
| chance you will have of hitting it well. Like we've | | | | 3. If one of your pitchers is throwing a "bull pen," |
| said many times, a fraction of a second is an | | | | go stand nearby and watch him closely. Try to |
| eternity when it comes to baseball hitting and it | | | | read the curve as quickly as you can. |
| most certainly applies here. That's why pitchers | | | | If you're serious about your baseball hitting, you |
| who have "late breaking" pitches are usually very | | | | will find the time to do these things. By doing the |
| successful, because the batter does not realize it | | | | things listed above, you may very well be seeing |
| is a breaking ball until it's a fraction of a second | | | | 50 curve balls per week instead of only 10 per |
| too late. | | | | week. I'm well aware that it's not as efficient as if |
| Ways to Recognize the Curve Ball Quickly: | | | | you were up there hitting in the batter's box but |
| - Watch the release point of the pitcher very | | | | it will still improve your recognition of the curve. |
| closely. One of the better baseball tips on hitting | | | | How can it not help? It has to to help you. |
| to remember is that quite often the pitcher's | | | | Hitting the Curve Ball: |
| release point for a curve ball may be slightly | | | | - Quick hands are an essential part of successful |
| different than his release point on his fastball. | | | | baseball hitting. If your hands are quick, you can |
| - Watch the trajectory of the ball as soon as it's | | | | "stay back" longer. By staying back and not over |
| released by the pitcher. It could very well have a | | | | committing, this is extremely useful when |
| slight arc to it that is not present on the fast ball. | | | | attempting to hit the curve ball. There is much |
| - Watch the pitcher's arm angle. There's a strong | | | | less of a chance you will be fooled by it and be |
| possibility that with the fastball, the pitcher may | | | | off balance and too far out in front. There is no |
| come almost directly overhand and with the | | | | substitute for having quick hands. |
| curve he may drop down a little bit. This happens | | | | - "Hit it where it's pitched." An old cliche but still |
| very often because many pitchers are in love | | | | one of the best baseball tips on hitting. A tough |
| with horizontal movement. (Personally, I'm in love | | | | low and away curve ball with very good |
| with downward movement.) | | | | downward movement is not an easy pitch to hit. |
| - Practice watching as many curve balls as | | | | I highly recommend hitting it to the opposite field. |
| possible. | | | | Very few well located low and away curve balls |
| Let's say you play three times a week and get | | | | are pulled by a batter and hit well.Very few. |