Posted by: () on Fri Nov 26 07:06:55 2004

Hi Matt,
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> First of all I hope Jack and everyone on this site had a Happy Thanksgiving.
>
> Now, to the point: if your son is insistent upon mastering the basics of PFO, you should make sure that intimidation is not a factor, and that he does not mind getting hit with a pitched ball. First and foremost, work with your son until he can stand close to the plate (e.g., Bond), and still hit inside pitches over the pull field fence with regularity.
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> Once he can accomplish this goal, practice using more THT on pitches over the middle of the plate, until he can also pull these pitches over the pull field fence.
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> Finally, when he is ready, have him practice using the most THT, until his casting arms are able to yank a ball over the pull field fence.
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> As far as pitching speeds are concerned, PFO's, when confused, should always look for a fastball. Should a slower pitch than expected arrive, they, by looking for the fastest possible pitch, will have enough time to put a good stroke on the ball, regardless of where it is.
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> Also, please remember that the hitter has the least amount of time on inside pitches; therefore, the batter should always think about getting the bat head out quick.
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> On pitches in the middle of the plate, your son will be able to wait longer; however, this makes this pitch even easier to pull (i.e., by casting somewhat, and hitting with a longer lever).
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> By far, the easier pitch to pull is the outside pitch, since this requires the least amount of reaction time, and adds more power by increasing the size of the lever arm.
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> Why?
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> Because--assuming that the average individual arcs the bat back towards the catcher, than towards the pitcher to develop batspeed--degree of bat sweep and arc width are major determinants in a good swing.
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> Suppose a batter attempts to pull the ball on every pitch.
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> On inside pitches, the bat rotates 180+x degrees, where x is a constant for number of degrees past 180 degrees. However, that number might be small when compared to pitches over the middle of the plate or away, since, as speed increases, the tendency to get past a centerfield swing degrees. For this reason, it is imperative that your son be quick on all inside pitches.
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> On pitches over the plate, the bat has more time to accelerate; hence the number of degrees beyond the centerfield position, represented by y, will be greater than x.
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> For the same reason, on outside pitches, 180+z>180+y>180+x.
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> Remember, again, that a short pitch can only handle an inside pitch with the greatest force if the bat is beyond the 180 degree position.
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> The same is true on a pitch over the middle of the plate, but, due to the wider arc, if the bat was in the same pull position for both, the former will travel less than the latter, since a longer lever will pull the ball a greater distance, all things being equal, than a shorter one.
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> Finally, the outside pitch provides the widest arc; assuming equal conditions, these pitches get pulverized to the pull field.
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> Thus, the following interactions can be established:
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> 1) Inside pitches have the least amount of time, the shortest levers, and the least propensity for getting the bat out far ahead of 180; thus, quickness is essential=pull power
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> 2) On pitches over the plate, more time means a larger lever arm, and getting the bat head out further=more pull power.
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> 3) Lastly, pitches away have the largest lever arm, most time, and the bat head gets out the farthest=the best type of pull power.
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> I'll try to answer any mechanical questions as soon as possible. Tonight I just wanted to give you a rough understanding.
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> Cheers (and good luck to your son)!
> BHL
>

BHL I'm sorry but you lost me on this part: "on inside pitches, the bat rotates 180+x degrees, where x is a constant for number of degrees past 180 degrees. However, that number might be small when compared to pitches over the middle of the plate or away, since, as speed increases, the tendency to get past a centerfield swing degrees. For this reason, it is imperative that your son be quick on all inside pitches." What is the 180 xyz stuff?