Hitting and Hitters Discussion Best Bat for Slappers & Draggers

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DD is looking for a new bat. She will be used primarily for slapping and dragging this coming season. She has swang a 31" RT for the last two seasons. She likes the Demarini CF3 (gold). I like the Miken Rain. Any good suggestions would be appreciated.

 

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Lacy recommends the 05 synergy -10

 

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Thanks Brandy! I know the Synergy is a good bat! I may loose some friends on here if I buy an Easton. LOL Hope the 05 Synergy's aren't going for as much as the 05 RT's. Paige really likes that Demarini Cf3. I've heard good things and I've also heard they had problems with it.

 

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It was supposed to be changed...not the 05 the blue one I think 07 or 08 IDK....

 

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Not a fan of an end loaded bat to bunt and drag.

 

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We moved DD up to a 33 in bat to get those outside corners. She has an Easton Stealth. She likes it pretty well, but not sure if it is the best out there. Was told to have a heavier bat by one coach, but she hated it and that stopped that. Good luck

 

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My dd is a bunter /slapper, but this last year can now hit for power. We use a 33 -10
Length is important to a slapper, not weight of bat. So why would you use an RT?, unless you plan on hitting for power.

 

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Maybe I have bad logic but for the slappers on my team I bought the cheapest, deadest bat I could find. If you are slapping you want the ball to take a couple of bounces to get to an infielder so the batter can beat the throw, same with dragging. I see slappers with hot bats slapping and the ball flying off the bat with one hop to an infielder that turns into an easy out. If the player is really really good at handling the bat and can avoid the sweet spot when she wants a slow bouncer that's great but rare. If she has good power and sometimes hits away from the left side then I can understand going with a bat with pop but not a pure slapper / drag bunter.

 

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Many good slapping sites. I set a Milk jug about 3 to 5 feet in front of the plate. Now line it the direction you want to hit the ball. The slapper must hit the ball in the dirt and the milk jug is the target. My hitting into the dirt you take the power out of the slap and anyone with speed will be safe at first. You can do this drill with a T, off a machine , or soft toss. I even have the dd do it with a whip hit.

 

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My dd is a bunter /slapper, but this last year can now hit for power. We use a 33 -10
Length is important to a slapper, not weight of bat. So why would you use an RT?, unless you plan on hitting for power.

SB, My daughter was used as a power hitter until recently.That's why she used the RT. She is on a new team, new coaches this year. They want to use her on the left side. Slapping, dragging and I'm sure they'll also have her hitting away. I understand the RT has too much pop for slapping so that's why we are looking for a new bat.

I'm just a Mom who watches alot of softball but I do know she needs a balanced bat instead of end loaded. I was thinking about 32" instead of 31" to go after those outside pitches and corners. Just not sure what Bat???? The Cf3 is balanced isn't it? and the Rain?

Thanks for the drill. I can do that one with her....

 

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I will PM you. Need to ask a few ? Your RT is a good bat. The issue is the 31 ".

 

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Maybe I have bad logic but for the slappers on my team I bought the cheapest, deadest bat I could find. If you are slapping you want the ball to take a couple of bounces to get to an infielder so the batter can beat the throw, same with dragging. I see slappers with hot bats slapping and the ball flying off the bat with one hop to an infielder that turns into an easy out. If the player is really really good at handling the bat and can avoid the sweet spot when she wants a slow bouncer that's great but rare. If she has good power and sometimes hits away from the left side then I can understand going with a bat with pop but not a pure slapper / drag bunter.

Bingo! Go4fpsb is the winner! Why in the world would you buy a bat for $300 to hit the ball 10-30 feet??? The bat to use for slapping/dragging should be dead. It can be an old worn-out but still game legal composite or metal/aluminum bat. It should be balanced, and you shouldn't spend a dime on it. Chances are there is someone you know carrying around a dead bat that would be willing to give it to you for free.

Len

 

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Just make sure "old dead bat " you find has the appropriate cerifications on it! We had three girls have bats DQ'ed at Stingray; they were so old never had the stamps or they were worn off. I believe all the bats when new togehter probably cost about $50 at Walmart! And, if you have a nice newer bat you don't want to use...........

 

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This idea is OK if you plan on only being a slapper/bunter and never hitting for power. Every defense you play will know how to play you. The good ones can also punch hit or hit for power. You can do the old bat switch, but any good coach will figure that one out pretty quick. I'm a firm believer that you must also learn to hit for power from the left side. This hitter takes what the defense gives them and they are the hardest players to play against. Example Watley.
Plus when Cassie Cunningham does you slapper camp, I will bet that she will tell you no good college slapper uses a dead bat! I have been to a few slapper camps, never heard it mentioned once.

 

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SB Family-- Bingo hit it on the head. If your just gonna slap and drag and bunt , then teams will play you differently then if you can hit it thru the holes and for power! Excellent Point!

 

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SB and PC beat me to the punch. Couldn't disagree more with the comment about using a dead bat. To be a truly effective slapper, you need to master the soft slap, hard slap, and power slap (or swinging away for power would serve the same purpose). The soft slap is often the main weapon and is based on placement as well as hitting it soft. However, proper technique will enable the slapper to deaden the ball even with a "hot" bat. Using a dead bat would prohibit the slapper from hitting hard smashes or high choppers over drawn-in infielders (not to mention gap shots in the OF). This is a must to keep the D honest. You can be the best soft slapper in the world, but a good D will adjust and get you out even if you run a 2.6. Slapping really becomes a deadly weapon when the hitter can decide (often pitch to pitch) where to hit it and how hard. An efficient slapper "messes with" the defense by taking what they are given. Dozens of times I have seen a certain slapper (my DD) go 4 for 4 with a soft slap to 5-6 hole, then with the left side drawn in, a hot smash by 3B before she can even react, then a bunt single (usually with no throw) after 3B soiled herself the last AB. The 4th AB is then usually a "pick em" b/c the D has no clue what to do. Of course, to really mess with them a power slap into the RCF gap for 3 or maybe 4 bags would be the ideal topper after the OF moves way in.

As for the original question, a couple pieces of advice. (1) balanced, not end-weighted, and (2) more length is great but don't sacrifice bat control b/c that is critical in the short game. DD went from a 32 to 33 this past year (Jr year HS, 18u summer). The extra inch definitely helped her reach/ waste a few of those nasty outside drops or change-ups. Make sure your kid can handle the bat though--bat control is probably #2 in importance for slappers (running speed is probably #1).

 

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My Oldest DD (12U) is taking slapping lessons from Cassie Cunningham right now. She told me to get 32 inch CF3. She said the R/T end load is terrible for a slapper who want to keep her bat tip high. You guys are also right about the power part. 1/2 of the lesson is working on the full swing from the left side so that she isn't one dimensional and defenses can't cheat. Cassie likes the CF3 because it is more balanced and has a big sweet spot for the power swings.

 

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My Oldest DD (12U) is taking slapping lessons from Cassie Cunningham right now. She told me to get 32 inch CF3. She said the R/T end load is terrible for a slapper who want to keep her bat tip high. You guys are also right about the power part. 1/2 of the lesson is working on the full swing from the left side so that she isn't one dimensional and defenses can't cheat. Cassie likes the CF3 because it is more balanced and has a big sweet spot for the power swings.

Just wondering age and size of your DD? My dd has used the 31" RT for the last two season and handles it well. I'm thinking about moving to the 32" this year but I don't want to put too much bat in her hand either.. She'll be changing from and end loaded bat to a balanced bat which I'm sure will make a difference in how she handles it. My dd is only about 5'3", 110lbs at 15.

 

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Many of the above comments are right on... BAT CONTROL really is the key. It needs to feel like an extension of your arm. You also need to be able to hit for power in order to keep the 3rd baseman honest. I wouldn't spend a ton of money, but a balanced composite bat is what you want. I personally prefer Synergy (you can find good used ones). You need to use the same bat that you would use swinging away (you can always choke up on a slap). You don't need to use a super high powered bat because you aren't trying to hit the ball over the fence.

 

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If you can hit, don't try to be a slapper. If you can't hit, I suppose it's all right to try if you don't have another sport to play. Slapping works best against young, inexperienced fielders. At higher levels, slappers are low-average hitters. Most are liabilities to their teams. Lots of coaches like them (which is all you need to know about lots of coaches), but they should stop and consider how productive some of those slappers might be as regular hitters.

I recently watched Caitlin Lowe (lightning fast down the first base line) go 0-10 in the NPF playoffs. She struck out once, popped up once and was thrown out by infielders 8 times after beating the ball into the ground at various first-rate infielders. Each time she returned to the dugout after failing to slap successfully, she was given high fives by her teammates as if making contact but not reaching base or driving in a run were something remarkable. It was dumb. I'll be she could have gone 3-10 if she'd have just stood in box and swung the bat!

Kids: Don't throw your scholarship hopes away. Stand up and HIT!