I caught this on Youtube and it's a 23 min doc of a GQ sports writer learning in 2 days how to hit a 95 MPH fastball. Amazing how the science of body usage and technology interact together to show what is required to accomplish this. A very interesting little doc
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Yeah they used pitching machines just because of the safety factor which actually makes it harder for the batter
That was exactly the first thing I thought of when watching his swing getting diagnosed
The swings are also similar to the rotate-stable-rotate aspect from the upper body down. That coach really does a great job, especially when he says swing hard but don't try to hit the ball and the guy proceeds to clobber it
Theoretically, yes haha.
Bigger question, can the average guy hit a 70 mph pitch from a softball pitcher?
Bigger question, can the average guy hit a 70 mph pitch from a softball pitcher?
C'mon. Hitting machines are much easier to hit than a real pitcher.
With a real pitcher you have to determine the release point, determine what spin is being used (what pitch is coming), and you will have a pitch located anywhere. Pitching machines aren't completely consistent, but they all have a timing mechanism that is much easier to gauge and they are going to roughly put the ball in the same area.
The swing and the ability to adjust your timing for each pitcher is something you have to start learning at a young age. It is years of development and practice.
Last time I played baseball was little league - fantastic glove at SS, terrible hitter, haha.
Last time I played baseball was little league - fantastic glove at SS, terrible hitter, haha.
It's all timing and relative speed when facing a ball in a batting cage. The human element is what makes it a wild card.
In both college and high school, we'd dial up the pitching machines to up the velocity and you get used to learning the timing of the faster pitches. On the actual field, it was more difficult of course, but even then, you'd much prefer to face a guy just throwing heat than a guy who can bring it 90mph one pitch and 70mph the next. The speed differential is the aspect that even gives professional hitters difficulty.
I started swinging as soon as the red light went on. Dumb luck if I hit any. MLB hitters are amazing.
That explains so much...
Quote:
much harder to hit vs a real pitcher. With a real pitcher you can time the release easier.
Bigger question, can the average guy hit a 70 mph pitch from a softball pitcher?
C'mon. Hitting machines are much easier to hit than a real pitcher.
With a real pitcher you have to determine the release point, determine what spin is being used (what pitch is coming), and you will have a pitch located anywhere. Pitching machines aren't completely consistent, but they all have a timing mechanism that is much easier to gauge and they are going to roughly put the ball in the same area.
I disagree. As long as we’re not talking about a pitcher changing speeds or throwing breaking balls, it easier to time a fastball out of a pitcher’s hand than from a pitching machine. If a guy is throwing fastballs, it may take a few to get the timing, but a machine is much more sudden. It’s just suddenly on you. That’s my experience anyway.
Quote:
much harder to hit vs a real pitcher. With a real pitcher you can time the release easier.
Bigger question, can the average guy hit a 70 mph pitch from a softball pitcher?
C'mon. Hitting machines are much easier to hit than a real pitcher.
With a real pitcher you have to determine the release point, determine what spin is being used (what pitch is coming), and you will have a pitch located anywhere. Pitching machines aren't completely consistent, but they all have a timing mechanism that is much easier to gauge and they are going to roughly put the ball in the same area.
Not for me Fats, I hated pitching machines. I could at least time a live pitcher have seeing his motion. We are talking about a 95 mph FB only not a guy throwing changes, sliders etc. Just one pitch. So from that POV I still rather face a live pitcher.
I suppose it is personal.