Hitting and Hitters Discussion determining who to turn into a slapper

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I ?have never had a slapper but would like to experiment with a few girls this summer. ?Is there any particular speed from home to first you look for and what other factors should I consider? ?This is for high school girls and I may look at a few junior high aged girls to turn.

 

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Best to find the younger girls that have some speed that just don't drive the ball well. ?You'll find it very hard @ the HS level to convert a righty into a slapper. ?For one they think they are a great hitter already plus it takes time to develop a left handed slapper, believe me I know from experience.
I found it easier to find those 14 and under age girls that are struggling getting on base and introduce them to slapping. ?They are usually excited about trying something different that no one else is doing, then when they see that you can be affective getting on base without hitting it to the fence they are usually hooked. ?Another obstacle is getting unexperienced parents to buy into the switch. ?They think if lil Suzie is not getting her rips in then she won't be an important part of the team. ?I would give just about anything to have a couple quality slappers at the top of my lineup, maybe in a couple years. ;D
Good luck with your experiment!!

 

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I think average to above average speed is a prerequisite to becoming a slapper. If you?re just looking for someone to move the runners along, teach bunting to a specific spot. If you?re looking to get a girl on base, then some speed is going to be needed to beat out the throw from the hit that doesn't get through the infield. Who would I pick to "become" a slapper...a speedster, a girl that can't drive the ball, a pitcher who concentrates on her pitching? So, a whole host of players.
I recently started practicing with my daughter on a daily basis, the art of slapping. In her case, she's a pitcher and isn't the type to drive the ball. She has been on base more frequently, getting RBI's & moving runners along than I had ever anticipated. Who said tennis balls are for the courts- they're great for backyard slapping.

 

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I agree with both responding post on what they add to determine a slapper what I would like to add is that if thier right handed batting habits are not completly out of whack it will make them better hitters from the right side. Every girl on any of my teams High school or Travel can do somthing or is familiar with the left side.

 

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I also agree with Sundial when it comes to batters working on both sides of the plate. I like to think of it like weight lifting, to become stronger you have to lift with both sides of your body, no difference in hitting, will only make you a better hitter by working on both sides of the plate.
Although I'm not a fan of taking a righty and have her try to bunt or slap from left side, then move her to other side with two strikes. If I move them over to the left side, then they stay there for the entire at bat.

 

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LADY_KNIGHTS, while I can agree with you in general that it is not so easy to convert a righty into a slapper, it is definately not impossible.

In Greenville two years ago they had a right handed hitter who for 6 years of summer ball hit right handed. She happened to be blessed with speed but that was about it. I have little doubt that if she was not converted into a lefty slapper, she would have not made the final cut on the varsity team. The conversion was made in her junior year.

Oh, by the way, she went on to bat nearly .500 that junior year and over that in her senior year woth 52 hits on the season. Only one of those hits ever saw the green BTW.

This player could slap the ball to the pitcher and if she did not execute everything perfectly, there was no chance of throwing her out at first base. This player went on to be first team all league both years that she started varsity, and was offered numerous college oppertunities which she turned down.

In my experience teaching the slap is rather easy. I happen to be back coaching a 10U team, and I have started two young players slapping. One of them is 9 years old (8 years old when we taught her) and the other is 10. The young of the two has a .578 average so far over 28 games and she has not struck out since the 2nd game of the season. It is a blast watching a player like this really get it at such a young age.