How to hit a rise ball...  

Pitch looks down-the-middle, 

next you’re whiffing under it!
 

This post condensed from a much larger article at iSport. Please click here to read the full story.

A good rise ball does not start high or out of the zone, but rather rises immediately upon crossing over the plate. 

Here are ideas for how to best bat against it...

► Set up: Stand in front or back of the box; pick one.

In front of box: Challenge pitcher to make pitch break before it crosses the plate. Otherwise, it is more of a down-the-middle pitch.

In back of box: Challenges the pitcher to keep her rise ball perfect. Umpire more likely to call a ball for pitch rising out of strike zone.

 

► The right swing: Regardless of where the batter stands in the box, pop-ups can be prevented by keeping hands high, and swing on either a linear or downward plane.
 

► Keep hands high: and swing linear, but on a higher plane than normal. Professional players facing a rise ball never drop their hands. And as obvious as it may be, never drop the back shoulder when swinging at a rise ball!
 

► Keep swing linear or downward: Upward swing simply adds more upward spin to ball and results in pop up. 

Keep swing linear, though starting higher and remaining on a higher (but still linear) plane. 

As an alternative, simply swing downward on the ball. By over exaggerating a downward swing (still starting with the hands higher than normal), the batter should be able to chop down on the ball, eliminating its upward spin.
 

► Challenge the pitcher: You just have to be ready for it!