Hitting and Hitters Discussion Slap hitters

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Who are the best SLAP hitter coaches around, I have 2 of the fastest girls around 9 yr olds running 6.22 40 yard dash times at age 9 great players in others sports looking to get into fastpitch. Not much experience in this game just recreation level but great athletes with potential. I want a master at slap with this speed.

Ted

 

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Depends where you are located. Cassie Cunningham Head coach at OWU has a camp posted on this site. She was very good when she played at Capital. My view is to teach them to hit first from the left side than learn to slap/bunt,drag,power slap, duck hit.

 

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Depends My view is to teach them to hit first from the left side than learn to slap/bunt,drag,power slap, duck hit.

I took a slightly different route.......starting with drag bunt, and progressing to the slap. Making hitting the last skill taught. Not saying my way is better, just happened to work out in my case.

There are a few instructors in Southern Ohio, Jodi Eckmeyer (sp?) at "let's play ball" teaches it.

 

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The hitting first was a suggestion from some Olympic players and coaches. Reason you can defend a kid that can only slap or drag. Hard to argue with Olpmpic coaches and players like Laura Berg.

 

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I took a slightly different route.......starting with drag bunt, and progressing to the slap. Making hitting the last skill taught. Not saying my way is better, just happened to work out in my case.

There are a few instructors in Southern Ohio, Jodi Eckmeyer (sp?) at "let's play ball" teaches it.

I did and do the exact samething. A drag bunt is something they can use quickly getting them use to the footwork also at the sametime giving them something they can use in game. That's worked very well for me so far.

 

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Jodi for sure!!!!! And she starts with the slap first prior to the hitting. Simple reason harder to learn how to hit while running, than just hitting. The progression will happen either way. Its just a preference. Just because an olympian said something its not gospel. Catalyst daughter is a great slapper. And the younger they are the more reason that they drag and bunt cause the arms cant catch up with speed. Now as they get older its all about placement of the ball. I will agree with sbfamily that you do have to be able to hit>>>>>>Hence TRIPLE THREAT

 

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Back to the topic of teachers, if you are in the Columbus area, try Lindsay Schutzler. My dd has taking hitting/slappnig lessons from her through Grand Slam Dublin, but she might teach elsewhere too (I'm not sure about that though). Lindsay was an All-American playing for Tennessee during the Monica Abbott era.

I can't tell you how she compares with other slap teachers, but Lindsay has the knowledge & experience, and she seems to relate well with the players (my dd and others I've watched before/after our lessons).

 

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Jodi for sure!!!!! And she starts with the slap first prior to the hitting. Simple reason harder to learn how to hit while running, than just hitting. The progression will happen either way. Its just a preference. Just because an olympian said something its not gospel. Catalyst daughter is a great slapper. And the younger they are the more reason that they drag and bunt cause the arms cant catch up with speed. Now as they get older its all about placement of the ball. I will agree with sbfamily that you do have to be able to hit>>>>>>Hence TRIPLE THREAT

Thanks slapper21, didn't get much of a chance to check you guys out, but look forward to seeing you guys soon. Keep me posted on your schedule. .

 

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I found that some of the greatest teachers are the clips on the internet of people like Jessica Mendoza where she outlines, very simply, the fundamental mechanics of slapping, drag bunting etc.

My advice, as a parent of a 15 y/o .500+ lefty lead off hitter, is to make sure you teach the fundamental footwork for each different swing.

Have your DD watch some clips, then create some simple guides in your garage/basement that give reference points to the important things such as 'straight line to the pitcher, inside line of the batters box (my DD uses the same line for both so she knows if she is leaving the batters box) and, very importantly, the starting point.

here's a simple example:

Starting point

__________________X

___

< |
___​

Start with back foot on the X EVERYTIME!!! Our experience has proven that Slapping/Dragging are about timing. Practice stepping towards the pitcher from the same spot each and every time to create the timing memory.

My DD did countless reps with a bat in her hands without ever swinging. She remained loaded and ready to swing, but didn't until she could go through her foot work at full speed with a ball coming at her.

Once the footwork was down pat for drag's and slaps progression we went to hand and swing work. She started hitting off a tee, then hitting 'live balls' off of pitching machines, soft toss etc. One of the best tools we came up with was to set up 'gates' for my DD to hit in between (something as simple as two old ****** cones, or a glove and a visor) that were set up in the 5-6 hole about 4-5 feet apart. I challenged her to see how many slaps out of 10 she could get in the 'gate' until she consistantly hit 9 or 10 through repeatedly. Muscle memory....We move the gates to the different 'sweet spots' for slapping so she learn the body and swing muscle mechanincs to hit to the various 'gates'. Muscle Memory....

The combination of solid fundamental footwork paired with a simple 'target' to hit helped my DD immensely. She is far from perfect, but she can get the job done.

My simple advice to her has always been: get the ball in play and make them get you out.

Good Luck! Hope this helps a little.

 

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We use milk jugs as targets. They are cheap and making it fun for kids to practice. Keep in mind the foot work can be different. Most of the elite softball players have went to the cross over foot work, because like Mendoza and Whately they can hit for power. If you get a chance it is interesting to talk to one of these elite players. We had the privilege to talk to Laura Berg and have talked to some Olympics coaches on slapping. They have a different prospective than I 'm reading on here.

 

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Before going to a slapping coach,I would suggest parents and players evaluate the heart-drive and ability of thier player.If she is not hitting as a natural righty,don't assume she needs to slap.Slapping is not an excuse for a righty or a slower person to try to find a scape-goat,will only set her back.Evaluate her honestly if she can and wants to be a slapper.She also has to have a mind for the game.Coahes call on a slapper to understand the situation with score,outs,runners,etc. and rely on the player determine what to do in the box,where to place it,when to drag,slap into which gap and when to swing away.

Once my righty has learned how to hit and bunt-we determined she is fast as all get out and is not built for power,we went to slapping.Start early and not later.

Once we switched,we focused on hitting.She knows how to bunt already and didn't want to waste a season or 2 just dragging.Once we were a hitter we went to slapping.While waiting on the transfer from right to left we focused on speed and agility-a lot.
Now she knows how to hit from the left side we added slapping and a good time for us to get a coach.Didn't want to waste time and money on a coach if the ability wasn't there to start with.Now she can hit left and had local coaches and dad work the slapping we now know she is a slapper and prime time to hire a slapping coach to fine tune everything.

No disrespect to slap-coaches,just make sure it's the right choice.

I go with hit 1st,learn to slap/drag then go to a coach once you she has the idea down.Hitting 1st from the left(I feel) was crucial in hand eye coordination.

Don't waste your money early with a coach-make sure she is going to be a slapper 1st then go to a coach.12's and 14's were great years for my slapper since they institute slap defense alot at that age.She loved getting triples and hr's when teams play slap defense and she swings away!

Basically-find your niche 1st then get a coach once she has made the conclusion she is a slapper-don't jump on slapping if she doesn't fill the mold.After a year or two get her a coach and enforce speed and agility while going to a coach is my opinion.Never stop speed and agility training.Slapping coach will teach them right but in 14's and up and highschool,she will need speed.

 

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does anyone have info on jodi need to contact her

 

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One of the best training DVD's Slapping and the short game Caitlin Lowe, Andrea Duran, Amy Hillenbrand. After watching it you will be able to tell if your lessons are what the elite players are teaching. www.softballoutlet.com/shop

 

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I agree with a lot said in this thread... I can only speak of my expierence... my DD was struggling with hitting away from the right, she said that she could not pick up the ball until it was half way to the plate. I asked our HS coach to look at her and see what I was missing, he asked her to switch to the left she was able to make contact, the swing was odd to say the least as it was new to her. He also suggested that she see the eye doctor as he suspected an eye dominance issue.

Well we did see the doctor and she did have a right eye dominance issue. She worked on that and got contacts... We started working on the slapping thing at home, and watched many videos and went out to work on the skills, I knew she was fast as well, but I had no idea at this point.

She went to Coach C's Clinic in Millersport, Ohio and she really picked up on the footwork and skills at her camp, so we made the full switch over. However at summer ball she would go to the plate on both sides, depending on the defensive set up. This last year, she was on the left side all the time, ended up with a .542 Avg, and a .593 OB% Going 39 for 72, 38 Singles and 1 double. And covers home to first in 2.87 as a 13 y/o. Contact to toe touch.

I believe that the work she has put into it, and the guidance of Coach C has made her what she is today. Not to mention she only had 5 errors on the year. If you would like to go to Coach C clinic we are having one on Nov 7 in Mt. Gilead, there is a link to the info in another thread here.

 

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I agree with a lot said in this thread... I can only speak of my expierence... my DD was struggling with hitting away from the right, she said that she could not pick up the ball until it was half way to the plate. I asked our HS coach to look at her and see what I was missing, he asked her to switch to the left she was able to make contact, the swing was odd to say the least as it was new to her. He also suggested that she see the eye doctor as he suspected an eye dominance issue.

Well we did see the doctor and she did have a right eye dominance issue. She worked on that and got contacts... We started working on the slapping thing at home, and watched many videos and went out to work on the skills, I knew she was fast as well, but I had no idea at this point.

She went to Coach C's Clinic in Millersport, Ohio and she really picked up on the footwork and skills at her camp, so we made the full switch over. However at summer ball she would go to the plate on both sides, depending on the defensive set up. This last year, she was on the left side all the time, ended up with a .542 Avg, and a .593 OB% Going 39 for 72, 38 Singles and 1 double.

I believe that the work she has put into it, and the guidance of Coach C has made her what she is today. Not to mention she only had 5 errors on the year. If you would like to go to Coach C clinic we are having one on Nov 7 in Mt. Gilead, there is a link to the info in another thread here.

Fpdad: thanks for sharing your story! I never heard of an eye dominance issue before....glad to hear that the Coaches you worked with were able to help you sort this thing out

 

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I give lessons out of Total Athletic Development in Newark area, Central Ohio. I focus on teaching left handed bunt, then directional bunting, drag bunting and then slap. You need the proper coach who can show you the right feet positioning. There are some different ways to go about it. Depending on the player would depend which way to teach. Info@tadsports.net if interested.

 

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Eye dominance can be tested and is easy. Bustus/Howard cover this in their hitting camps Many kids do not get a good 2 eye look at the pitcher. Take a pencil tap it to front of helment and tie a plastic golf ball on the end. See where the golf ball is pointing at set up. Most will be looking at second base. Hard to hit a ball with one eye.

 

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In my opinion, developing a slapper is no different than teaching a little leaguer how to bunt then drag bunt from the left side (initially.) That is how I approached learning this skill with my daughter at 8yrs when she started. A natural righty, that has never taken an at bat right handed. She is now 12 and very deadly from the left side with good speed. I rarely refer to her as a slapper because this insinuates only one technique. Rather, I like to encourage her and others that I coach to view themselves as a "spray hitter" to all fields. How I SET IT UP: In the beginning, she bunted, pushed or dragged and learned how to dominate this technique. Focusing on the lead hand (right hand in her case) to the ball with all drills (tee, soft toss, standing toss, etc) helped her developed her fast twitch reflex to the ball and develop the lead hand as the dominate striking mechanism for her swing. Gradually, I incorporated the footwork: first the pivot then the crossover. I disagree with teaching the slap first to young players. The fundamental approach would be to learn how to properly strike the ball with a full swing + proper balance etc., then scale back with precision for the slap contact to flourish. I'm no former Olympian, but I think the person who commented on this post saying:"Just because an Olympian says something it's not gospel," is completely misguided. An Olympian in this particular sport & you're going to have a better approach to a given technique? Really? Anyways, if you're players have speed then great. But speed with no bat means nothing, and slap with no stick means one dimensional. Hit first, then slap and keep defense guessing. I played baseball as a contact hitter/ base stealing threat with this philosophy through college and it worked for me. I use this foundation for my daughter now and she at 4'9 85lbs recently was given an offer to join the Lady Laser Red team, but respectfully declined to pursue softball and volleyball( her second love) on another team. She was selected as a slapper. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!