The Proper Way to Take A Pitch

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[@nickw22689]

The pros make check swings look so much easier than they are. A video of you giving your approach and a demo on check swings would help me and probably many others. Thanks Matt, still the best KZbin ball coach.

[@TheRelevantUnknown]

1. High level pitching is about higher velocity and later movement and better location. 2. Hitting high level pitching requires a high level swing and approach. 3. It takes a high level swing and approach to make a check swing look easier. It’s ready-fire-aim. This means being able to swing while still adjusting to the pitch. Think of a fighter jet firing missiles. Old school jets used to have to get locked onto the target before firing. That’s lower level hitting. High level hitting is firing your missile and it locks on while in the air.

[@ThePurpleTape1]

Great video. Clear and concise.👍🏽

[@cubman777]

Thank you for this. I’ve tried to explain this to my youth players, but this makes it so much easier for them to see

[@user-cv1vk9hb5d]

The catcher's glove in the picture really shows the ball's path.

[@davidrigotti7414]

No it doesn't. This is the new framing technique in vogue today. You set a target, drop low, come up to receive. Had nothing to do with ball flight path.

[@edwardrussell2968]

Amazing comparison! Always be yes, yes, swing or yes, yes, take.

[@AltianoGerung]

amazing, best advice I hear all week about hitting

[@tubes-lut]

Great video. Must see for all kids.

[@foredave]

Thanks Matt, exactly what I need!

[@alansantaniello4536]

Great explanation and video comparison

[@michaelfitting1164]

That was my approach and what I've taught my players. It's a fastball until it's not. It's a strike until it's not. You are swinging until you are not. Obviously there are some exceptions depending on the situation, but in general this is the approach and mindset.

[@annunakian8054]

Baseball is a game of details & those who don't have an eye for details don't like baseball.

[@scottsmith2052]

The question is really whether it takes less time to hit on the brakes during swing, or start a swing out of a non-swing. The player in the video has a fast swing and fast brakes, but his brakes are faster. The better you get at shutting down a swing, the later you can wait on a pitch.

[@TheRelevantUnknown]

Once the velocity is high enough and the movement is late enough, you have to start your swing before you commit to finishing it. That’s what’s happening in the video. That’s why it’s yes-yes-no. It’s the only way to be able to hit 100 and the 90 slider and the 85 changeup at any time.

[@danielcastiglione5328]

I never understood coaches that thought those were bad takes. I had a college coach tell me, no check swings with aluminum bats. I mean I understood what he was saying and why, but never agreed.

[@andrewcreech8158]

I used to watch a lot of baseball, and when Ian Kinsler hit he seemed to always take the first pitch no matter what. Is this a common strategy? Are there any advantages to this?

[@genesispuredeaf2390]

No advantage other than oftentimes a pitcher will start a sequence on a batter with a strike to get ahead early. Often batters are comfortable letting the first pitch go by without contest to get dialed in.

[@ClarinoI]

I've seen an example recently where an umpire called that one on the right a swing.

[@paulpinball9952]

Another Angel Hernandez reference?

[@genesispuredeaf2390]

Did it get checked out to the field?

[@ClarinoI]

@@paulpinball9952 I can't remember, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[@ClarinoI]

@@genesispuredeaf2390 I don't think so.

[@jasonpendergraft4511]

Great analysis..even greater uniform😂

[@Andrew-13579]

Ha! A long time ago, when I was about 33, I tried the 70mph machine in a cage. I swear, there was only time for one YES. 🤣🤣 I only tried that once, coming to the conclusion I didn’t belong in there. 😂. I don’t know how you can hit 90 mph, not to mention 100!!

[@unclestinky6388]

I'm old school, I would call that a bad take. But most/many takes on an off speed pitch are bad takes. A hitter leaking forward like that was a real accurate tell for someone we could attack with off speed pitches. Not when a hitter does that once, but if there was a consistency to it. Maybe it's true that MLB hitters need to cheat like this to catch up to the velocity. On the other hand, this could be why MLB hitters strike out so much.

[@TheRelevantUnknown]

TLDR, this is for high level pitching…high velocity and late movement. 1. It’s a good take because it’s not only Velocity but also much later movement. It’s why sweepers are becoming so popular. They can start down the middle and end up in the other batters box. 2. Think about it from a pictcher’s point of view: when do they want the hitter to commit to swinging? As soon as the ball is released, when the ball is halfway, when the ball is to the hitters circle? As a pitcher, I would want it them to decide as early. As a hitter I want to decide later. 3. The video is about making the decision as late as possible. Big leaguers will actually start their swing before they’ve committed to finishing their swing.

[@Bravenheart_]

Angel Hernandez would call that a strike unfortunately

[@DAK4Blizzard]

This demonstrates why it's wrong, and honestly naive, to think a swing should be defined as the bat moving any noticeable distance toward the plate. Jon Heyman made that ridiculous point on MLB Network 3 years ago, and I still won't let him off.

[@Eidenhoek]

I mean, obviously that was a bad take. Coulda hit another homerun. -intentionally misunderstanding the video for a joke

[@Pee-Pad]

That IS a swing according to same umpires on the third base line.