How To Improve Swing Decisions

You’re only as good as the pitches you swing at.

 

How do you know what pitches you should swing at? 

 

Well, it first starts with understanding the strike zone. 

 

Let’s define the strike zone. 

 

The width of the strike zone is 17 inches. 

 

That is the same across every level of baseball and softball. 

 

The height of the strike zone is based on how tall the hitter is in their stance. 

 

But different levels define the strike zone top/down differently. 

MLB strike zone

“The official strike zone is the area over home plate from the midpoint between a batter's shoulders and the top of the uniform pants -- when the batter is in his stance and prepared to swing at a pitched ball -- and a point just below the kneecap. 

In order to get a strike call, part of the ball must cross over part of home plate while in the aforementioned area.

Strikes and balls are called by the home-plate umpire after every pitch has passed the batter, unless the batter makes contact with the baseball (in which case the pitch is automatically a strike)."

The vertical specifications of the strike zone have been altered several times during the history of baseball, with the current version being implemented in 1996.

 

high school and college strike zones are the same. 

 

 High School definition 

“The strike zone is that space over home plate, the top of which is halfway between the batter’s shoulders and the waistline, and the bottom being the knees, when he assumes his natural batting stance. The height of the strike zone is determined by the batter’s normal batting stance. If he crouches or leans over to make the shoulder line lower, the umpire determines height by what would be the batter’s normal stance”

 

NCAA definition

“The area over home plate from the bottom of the kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants. The strike zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.

 

Little League definition: 

“The STRIKE ZONE is that space over home plate which is between the batter’s armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The umpire shall determine the strike zone according to the batter’s usual stance when that batter swings at a pitch.”

 

So now that we know the definitions among the various levels of the game (MLB, College, High School, and Little League) 

 

I want to share a story with you about a conversation I had with one of my players lately. 

 

We talked about decreasing strikeouts, and the conversation ended with him saying…

 

“If I did that, it would 100% decrease the number of times I strike out, and more importantly, it would allow me to do more damage later in the count.”

 

I told him that if your team rewarded you for swinging at strikes and taking balls…what the umpire called was completely irrelevant.

 

Wait, isn’t that already the case? 

 

Well, kind of. 

 

In this scenario, I explained to him, you would be rewarded points if you take pitches off the plate, even if the umpire calls it a strike. 

 

So you could strike out looking and still receive points.  

 

On the flip side, points will be deducted points if you take a strike over the middle of the plate. 

 

Here’s how the game would work: 

 

When a hitter takes a pitch over the middle of the plate, they would be deducted two points. 

 

When a hitter takes a pitch in the strike zone but on the outside part of the zone, they would be deducted 1 point 

Now, here’s where the magic happens. 

 

When a hitter takes a pitch that is just off the plate, they are rewarded 2 points (even if the umpire calls it a strike) 

 

Now, when the hitter swings at a pitch over the middle of the plate:

 

 

When a hitter swings at a strike but it’s on the outer half of the strike zone they get 1 point. 

 

 

If they swing at a ball, they’re deducted 2 points. 

 

 

What would happen to their swing decisions if hitters followed this game above? 

 

It would force them to become more aggressive early in the count (or else they’re deducted points) 

 

AND it would allow them to be more selective with 2ks because they wouldn’t freak out if they struck out looking on a pitch that is a ball. 

 

Going back to the conversation with my player. After I showed him this game, I asked if he had followed it and what would happen to his swing decisions. 

 

Would you strike out less or more? 

 

“That would 100% decrease the number of times I strike out, and more importantly, would allow me to do more damage later in the count.”

 

I asked him why.

 

“Because I wouldn’t feel pressure anymore. That would relieve all of the stress I have about striking out.”

 

“So even with 2ks, I would still feel like I’m on offense. And with less than 2 strikes, I would know I need to be aggressive, or else I’ll lose points if I take a pitch over the middle of the plate.” 

 

You see, despite what everyone online says, hitters don’t like to strike out. 

 

You hear online: 

 

“MLB hitters don’t care about striking out now. It’s all about hitting a home run.” 

 

Really? 

 

That hitter’s livelihood is on the line, his family's livelihood is on the line, and you don’t think he cares when he strikes out? 

 

(Note: Most hitters in MLB are not on 100 million dollar contracts. So if they struggle, they will be sent down to Triple-A) 

 

Let me ask you a different question: 

 

Do you think a hitter’s swing percentage outside the strike zone is higher in a 0-0 count or a 2-strike count? 

 

Let’s find out

 

The percentage of swings outside of the rulebook strike zone at the MLB level: 

 

0-0 count: 17.3%

 

2 Strikes: 38.5%

 

The highest chase count at the MLB level:

 

3-2: 44.4%

 

So, does the fear of striking out cause more strikeouts? 

 

With 2ks, more hitters swing outside the strike zone, even at the MLB level. 

 

What do you think that means at every other level of the game? 

 

Those numbers are going to be even more dramatic. 

 

Now, I know some coaches will read this and won’t agree.

 

I’m okay with that. 

 

Remember, I don’t want my hitters to strike out, either. 

 

Worrying ‘less’ about striking out will decrease their strikeouts throughout the season, not increase them.

 

Key phrase: Throughout the season. (Not 1 game)

 

Think about it another way: 

 

If you always focus on being anxious, will you be more or less likely to become anxious? 

 

Probably more.

 

What about if you didn’t think about being anxious? You would still become anxious, but it wouldn’t happen as frequently, and more importantly, when it did, you wouldn’t stress about it compared to the person who always thought about it. 

 

If you want your hitters to strike out less, let’s put less emphasis on striking out, 2k approach, etc., and build a scoring system for them to get rewarded for swinging at pitches over the plate and taking pitches outside of the zone. 

 

They would be more likely to be aggressive earlier in the count and wouldn’t take those 0-0 FBs right down the middle, knowing they would be deducted points!

 

Then applaud them for taking pitches that aren’t strikes, even if that means they strike out looking. 

 

Watch what happens to those strikeout numbers at the end of the season. 

 

They will be down. 

 Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1.  Remote Training: This training program is for hitters who live across the country but still want to improve their mental game, timing, mechanics, swing decisions, and consistency. Each hitter will personally work with me, have access to text me video anytime, or call with questions. Hitters will receive a program detailing exactly what to do daily. 

     2.  In-Person Training: This training program is in-person. I am located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Join the top baseball and softball hitters in Ohio and work with me. We will focus on improving your mental game, consistency, timing, mechanics, and swing decisions.