To throw left-handed?

softballdad44

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5 yr old daughter starting softball. She's done everything in life right-handed (writing, eating, etc.) When she told me she doesn't have a hit/throw preference, I started her hitting left-handed and she's liked that so far. Should I have her throw left-handed as well? She likes that idea, and I'd like for her to try pitching eventually.
 
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IRdad09

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I don't know exact percentages, but my guess is she has a dominant hand. That is most likely what she'll end up throwing with. She could be in the very small percentage that is ambidextrous, which would be very cool. As far a batting goes, personally I'm 2 for 3. My oldest would not bat left handed even at a very early age, but the other 2 took to it and bat lefty to this day.
 

daboss

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I'm going to jump in here with a "passing the buck" answer. Ask her doctor and see if there is a learning pro or con to "helping" her develop her motor/mechanical skills.

We all know of the "switch-hitter" skills that athletes develop. This actually is a form of ambidextrous and many can learn the art of throwing with both hands as well. From what little schooling I can remember, while people can develop the ambidextrous skills, they still tend to have dominating left or right functions that are hard-wired into each individual's brain.

While we all are aware of the advantages of left-handed players in fastpitch, it has drawbacks as well. Drawbacks in softball as well as other sports as it can be a limiting factor. I can only guess that a Pediatrician would advise you to let nature determine how this lil girl shapes up, I would be curious what the medical field says about early-age training and development of skills in this manner.

On a lighter note; I'd like to share a lil joke/anecdote I use with young girls when teaching them how to pitch, I think it lightens the air and makes them smile:

Young ladies are normally frustrated when trying to pitch underhand for the first time. I explain to them how this is all their parents fault. Their intervention when you were younger kept you from already knowing this skill. I explain the scenario; that at a young age as you were beginning to walk, at some moment something on the floor would catch your attention. You would waddle over and pick it up. Almost inherently a parent would say "Throw it, throw it to me" and after careful study you would toss the item underhand towards them-----beaming with joy. The parent would respond by saying "No, that's not right. do it this way" and put the item in your hand and show you the overhand motion as the preferred method of throwing. From that day forward you have practiced how to throw overhand. Now, here you are, all these years later, and they want you to hone your skills to throw underhand-------the very motion you started with as a toddler------and they told you "No". So in the future when your parents get frustrated because you are struggling to learn how to pitch, remind them it's all their fault. Had they left you alone, you'd already know how. Just saying...........
 

hisjr

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There are a lot of coaches who are of the baseball mindset about what positions a left-handed player should play. Usually, they're held to play the pitcher, 1B, and the outfield positions. There have been successful fastpitch left-handed catchers, 2B, and SS players in college. Footwork and arm strength would be paramount to convince a coach to keep them there.

Hitting is a plus if they’re a little late with their swing and drive balls up the middle or the opposite way.

I wish her lots of luck and enjoyment in the future.
 

IRdad09

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I'll bite. I won't disagree on the seeing a lefty play C and play it well. However, you'll have a very, very difficult path to convince me (not that it matters :)) that a lefty can play 2b or SS. There is more that goes into it other than footwork and arm strength. They have to turn their bodies to get an angle regardless of what they are trying to achieve. That takes time, which as they get older they don't have and they'll be moved to OF or C.
 

yocoach

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I'll bite. I won't disagree on the seeing a lefty play C and play it well. However, you'll have a very, very difficult path to convince me (not that it matters :)) that a lefty can play 2b or SS. There is more that goes into it other than footwork and arm strength. They have to turn their bodies to get an angle regardless of what they are trying to achieve. That takes time, which as they get older they don't have and they'll be moved to OF or C.
Playing devil's advocate. What's the difference between a Righty SS turning their body on a hit in the F5-F6 hole versus a lefty SS doing the same for a hit ball down the middle? As far as I can tell, there are disadvantages and advantages on both sides of the fence. i.e. No matter the backhand for righty or lefty side, they have to turn their bodies for fielding and throwing. Statistically speaking from my observations, it's pretty evenly split between hits in the F5-F6 hole and the F4-F6 hole. One could argue that most line drive hits up the middle are fielded by the OF anyway. IMO, the only place I wouldn't put a lefty would be 3rd base due to the short game.
 

IRdad09

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Valid points for sure. I can't argue or disagree with the plays that would be in either hole. I'm also thinking along the lines of charging the ball or applying a tag at 2. For the same reason why you wouldn't want a lefty playing 3rd is why personally I wouldn't put one at SS or 2B. If you have to charge anything, high chopper, weak hits, it is already difficult for a rightly and being a lefty would make it near impossible to completely reset, turn and throw. Good discussion here :)
 

Stedman00

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witnessed the unicorn lefty 3b recently... and any slow hit or bunted ball to 3b was a base hit. took way too long to get ball to 1b.
 

yocoach

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Valid points for sure. I can't argue or disagree with the plays that would be in either hole. I'm also thinking along the lines of charging the ball or applying a tag at 2. For the same reason why you wouldn't want a lefty playing 3rd is why personally I wouldn't put one at SS or 2B. If you have to charge anything, high chopper, weak hits, it is already difficult for a rightly and being a lefty would make it near impossible to completely reset, turn and throw. Good discussion here :)
No longer playing devil's advocate here. I wouldn't play a lefty at third or 2nd myself. 3rd, for the reason I stated and 2nd for the reasons you stated and my believing a 6-4-3 DP is more prevalent than a 4-6-3 and a lefty would only be a plus in one out of 4 scenarios in either DP. They wouldn't be fast enough to make the turn or turn and throw in time in the other 3 scenarios.

I've had lefty's everywhere else including SS and they've had no issue adjusting to their positions. The footwork is a little different at 2 for a lefty SS but not insurmountable if athletic which every SS I know, is.
 

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