You have waited all winter for Opening Day. It has now come and gone and you are 4-5 games into your season, and hitless. What was childlike anticipation has turned to frustration. If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, there is a reason major league spring training lasts 6 weeks. It takes hitters that long to get adjusted to the pitching.

The hitter’s stride (approach) is his timing mechanism. When the stride foot lands too early or too late, the timing is off. Timing is the most critical aspect to hitting. When you start playing your games, one of two things generally occur: 1) You are either way ahead of pitches or 2) Way behind. Timing. Only seeing live pitching will correct this. Continue to throw your kids live batting practice on the field during practice and adjust your distance and/or pitch speed to compensate for what you want them to work on.

1. If You Are Ahead Of Pitches:

Chances are you are pulling off. You feel you are not quick enough to get to the pitch and your front side pulls out too quickly to try and get the barrel to the ball or you start your approach too soon, with the same result.

Corrective Action:  Until you get to the point where your timing has caught up, try and drive the ball up the middle or to the opposite field gap. This will require the hitter to control his stride (his body) into the pitch and slow his approach slightly to compensate for the slower pitch speed. Trying to drive the ball up the middle or to the opposite field gap will also help the hitter keep his front side “on” the pitch longer as well.

When the hitters’ front side pulls off, the head goes first and the body follows. Keeping your head in there longer will keep your body in there longer.

2. If You Are Behind Pitches:

Chances are you do not trust your instincts. You are not picking the ball up soon enough from the pitcher, you are starting your approach too late or once you do, you don’t swing because you don’t feel you can catch up.

Corrective Action:  Expect every pitch to be a strike and approach every pitch the same way. If you are behind pitches, start your approach a little sooner. In the on-deck circle, try and stride and time the pitch from the pitcher. If you can, even when not in the on-deck circle, pick up a bat and do the same.

Baseball Zone’s Memberships [1] give parents and coaches access to more information on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching and defense as well as a lot of material on practicing, training and equipment.

Baseball Zone’s Practice Planner [2] makes creating practice plans quick and easy. With over a 150 different drills to choose from, creating a well thought out plan is only a few clicks away.