So how effective is switch hitting at the upper levels of the sport?

Wow, so modest. Your gym represents "the upper levels of the sport" right? Where do you train?

 

I think it's not all that effective at the higher level, it only works if you're really comfortable in that stance, know the strengths/weaknessess of it and have the tools to utilise it. Doing it against a top opponent will just lead you to confusing yourself as upper level fighters are not that easily fooled. It's also a sign of your primary gameplan not working (De la hoya switching after Whitaker totally neutralized his left hook).

The only times it works is when you're a level above your opponent like Ward with Miranda and they can't suss it out/use it against you.

 

It worked for Oscar.

 

I think elite fighters do it more as a defensively ploy to throw the other guy's timing off...offensively, I'm not sure how effective switiching is when you spend most of your training, your whole career for that matter, fighting at one stance.

 

Dirrell is great at it. I think it depends on what you're using it for. If you're equally skilled at both stances, you can use it to promote a particular punches effectiveness. It can become predictable if you keep using it the same way, though.