How to Hit the Curveball

Quite possibly some of the most frequent questions that I hear are about hitting off-speed pitches. With most amateur baseball players below the college ranks, that question is typically about hitting the curveball.

What is a hitter's biggest fear? Not having enough time! Think about it-- it takes a fastball a fraction of a second to make it to home plate; approximately .5 seconds. You basically only have enough time to react to the pitch. Now, with an off-speed pitch like a curveball you can add a couple tenths of a second. As much as baseball players see fastballs, there's no mystery why we have trouble hitting off speed pitches. To the common fan, fractions of a second don't seem like much of a difference because players make it look so easy, but to the player in the batter's box, it is not as easy as it looks. That fraction of a second is the difference between a ball that's hit off the wall and an easy ground ball out.

So now we know what is giving hitters so much trouble. As much as you want to believe its the movement that gives hitters trouble, it actually has more to do with the timing. Throwing off the timing, this is what pitchers call, "keeping a hitter off-balance." So what's the solution to hitting that curveball? WAIT LONGER! Let it get deeper into the strike zone and hitters have a better chance to square the ball up. The best way for me to help my hitters understand this concept is by telling them to not try to hit the ball before it breaks, but after it does. It makes them wait longer and makes their pitch selection better. This helps hitters stop swinging at that ball in the dirt and square up the curveball a lot more often.

How to Properly Lift the Baseball

This week Raphael goes in-depth about what it exactly it takes to be a consistent extra base threat. Going into what he calls "tilt", he explains the position it takes to consistently lift the baseball...and HARD.

Whats the best way to stay out of double play trouble? Hit it over fielder's heads!!! So grab your popcorn and a chair, and take notes on how to consistently drive baseballs into gaps.

Optimizing Torque

The biggest key to a fast pair of hands is being able to get your hips OUT OF THE WAY. This is what makes the hands appear to be fast when in actuality, the speed through the zone is actually initiated by how fast your hips can rotate. 

Getting the hips to rotate is as simple as getting the back foot turned faster, but is it possible to generate even MORE speed? How?

Check out this week's blog post to learn how to get your hips moving a lot faster so that you too can hear more coaches and scouts talking about how fast your hands are!!!

Educational Hitting

As we have become more and more technologically advanced as a society, we seemed to have moved further away from the small things that help us to continue our advancement. Multiply that by sport and those things that make us better become even MORE scarce-- and that is education.

One of probably the most important parts of life and understanding the world around us is being able to open a book and have the knowledge at our fingertips. For this week's blog, Raphael goes into the importance of using the tool of literature to become better players.

Enjoy this week's blog and if you have any great baseball books, feel free to send them in to us or suggest them at our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/UnmatchedPerformance

A Balanced Swing, is a Consistent Swing.

Almost every time you watch a baseball game, you can listen to the commentators breaking down some professional swing that is just almost impeccable. They love hitting on different points but probably their favorite "go-to" is BALANCE. They absolutely love breaking out the fact that a hitter has "amazing balance."

With as many answers as they have for those swings, why can't we get just as many explanations of why that balance is so important?

In this weeks blog, I will address the importance of balance and what it can do for your swing. You'll also learn how to maintain balance and why you need it so much. Enjoy.

Dream big. Ball HARD!

The Most CRUCIAL Component of the Baseball Swing!

There are many things that go into the production of a consistently amazing baseball swing. You'll hear many different teachings from plenty of coaches but no matter what they say, I ASSURE you that for any hitter to be successful, he MUST rotate!

In order for this rotation to happen, the back foot in the swing must be used effectively. Check out the video and see just how!

Questions? Suggestions on next week's topic? Leave a comment and request it!

Welcome to the Unmatched Performance Baseball blog!

Welcome to the Unmatched Performance blog page. We're a BRAND NEW baseball and softball training company here in Charlotte, NC.

Here to deliver tips, answer questions, and give you the knowledge that we have in order to help parents be better coaches and athletes become better players. We'll be introducing you to our athletes, give you a chance to hear their feedback and testimonials, break down baseball video, and bring you more of the information you truly want to hear about!

Feel free to check out our website www.UMPerformance.com. Give 2013 Baseball Summer Camp a look, our athletes, our services, and other ways you can contact and follow us.

Check out the video below to hear from the owner, Raphael Turner.