Ryan Walker

[Monte Lee @CoachMonteLee]

🔥

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

The biggest mistake I made when learning to hit a curveball...

I treated every curveball like it was my pitch.

So every time I saw spin, I swung.

I'd swing and miss.
I'd roll over weak ground balls.
I'd get myself out on pitches I had no business swinging at.

For years, I thought I had a curveball problem.

I didn't.

I had a decision problem.

Because every curveball isn't equal.

Some are mistakes.
Some are strikes.
Some are traps.

Once I figured that out, everything changed.

The goal isn't to hit every curveball.

The goal is to identify the mistakes and attack those.

Then let the others go.

So if I were learning to hit a curveball today, here's exactly what I'd do.

First, I'd put a glove on my top hand.

Then I'd have a coach or pitching machine throw different types of curveballs.

- Hangers
- Curves below the zone
- Curves off the plate
- Curves that start as strikes and finish as balls
- Curves that stay up

My job wouldn't be to swing.

My job would be to catch the ones I'd want to hit.

And let the others go.

Why?

Because before you can hit a curveball...

You have to identify it.

This slows the game down and teaches your eyes what a hittable curveball actually looks like.

Then I'd level it up.

Now I'd grab a bat.

Still no swings.

If it's a hanger or a curveball I can damage:

"I crushed it."

If it's a bad pitch:

"I'm taking."

Now we're training the mind.

We're learning to separate good curveballs from bad curveballs.

Then I'd move to the final step.

Now we swing.

Same game.

Same thought process.

Only now we're actually hitting.

Good one?

Attack it.

Bad one?

Take it.

One thing I've learned from 25 years of playing baseball:

Most hitters don't struggle with curveballs because they can't hit them.

They struggle because they keep swinging at curveballs they should never be swinging at in the first place.

Try this tonight:

✅ 10 catches
✅ 10 call-outs
✅ 10 swings

Record a video of yourself doing it.

I'd love to see it.

Thank you for reading,
Jermaine Curtis

P.S. - If you enjoyed this, and it helped, share it. This tells me you want more content like this.

[Ryan Walker @TheWalkDaddy]

@Duhlude

[Leading Report @LeadingReport]

BREAKING: U.S. Army is increasing the maximum enlistment age from 34 to 42.

[South Carolina Football @GamecockFB]

Keepin' up with Kendal

[Ryan Walker @TheWalkDaddy]

I need this to go to a shootout and Julie "The Cat" Gaffney to come in off the bench. My life would be complete.

[🇨🇦 Antonio Tweets @AntonioTweets2]

Pay attention. The real truth behind what Trump is doing.

[Marcus Lattimore @MarcusLattimore]

Poem: Shane Beamer

[Ryan Walker @TheWalkDaddy]

This Clemson vs NC state ACC quarter final is fucking awesome. If you want to see some good baseball, tune in!

[Ryan Walker @TheWalkDaddy]

@MattjMueller91 14 hours straight is crazy!

[General Steez @generalsteez69]

Jake Moody is about to send off the best onside kick ever I can just tell

[Peter Burns @PeterBurnsESPN]

The @CFBPlayoff Committee needs to add one extra protocol.

Record over the last 6 games

They need to reward teams that are playing their best football at the end of the season

With 12 teams, you are going to selected flawed teams, so they should consider what teams got better

[Brad Crawford @BCrawford247]

Everything that South Carolina needed to happen, did!

Auburn upset Texas A&M.
Oklahoma upset Alabama.
Florida upset Ole Miss.
Big 12 chaos continued.
Ohio State smoked Indiana.
Notre Dame demolished Army.

Buckle up.

[Dan Orlovsky @danorlovsky7]

If South Carolina beats Clemson next week

They should get legit consideration for CFP

[Famously Garnet Sports @FamouslyGarnet]

The creative media team can’t be stopped! 😂

[Brad Crawford @BCrawford247]

Aaron Murray just called Diego Pavia 'Tebow Jr.'.

I think that's enough for him behind the mic tonight.

[Saturday In South Carolina 🤙🏻 @SaturdayInSC__]

SEC officiating crew in the SC vs LSU game is the reason South Carolina is not in the playoff conversation.

Argue with a wall. Tell me I’m wrong.

[Dan Orlovsky @danorlovsky7]

Can either OLE MISS or South Carolina get into the playoff?

There is 0 doubt they’re 2 of the best teams in CFB

Congrats to @Lane_Kiffin and @CoachSBeamer

They can flat out coach

[Ryan Walker @TheWalkDaddy]

@m0nster_b @MattjMueller91

[Chris Marler @Vern_Funquist]

Ole Miss just had their 30th stoppage for injury.

It came after 3 consecutive 1st Downs and LSU got in the red zone.

It’s just pathetic at this point.

Would also love to know how many of those were strictly on the defense

[Peter Burns @PeterBurnsESPN]

The fix for faking injuries is a simple one in my opinion.

If a player leaves the game that requires stoppage of play, they sit out the series.

Also, the league office should be able to review film to see if the player was told to fake injury by sideline.

If so, $50,000 fine.