WHO should learn to slap?

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Merlion and SBFamily,
Thank you for the info. I was being too lazy to search at the time.

 

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I'm with SBFamily. If she isn't under 3 seconds (and we could debate all day about how to time that), work on her power game.

Just wondering about if a player is faster on dirt or gym floor ,My dd had a time of 3.4 when she was timed on gym floor do you think her time will go down outside on a dirt field, she also had 11 seconds from home plate to home plate . But she can also hit to the fence on occation which would be better to work on?

 

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3.4 home to first and 11 seconds from home to home.She must really turn it on after first base cause 11 home to home is flying

 

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On the gym floor your going to be faster. Getting out of the box outside and running in dirst will slow you down a little. If you have speed moving to the left is a great idea, but just because your fast won't mean your going to be successful at it. Moving thru the zone and trying to hit a moving ball isn't a piece of cake. It will take a lot of practice to develop into a good slapper- my DD is working on it.

 

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On the gym floor your going to be faster. Getting out of the box outside and running in dirst will slow you down a little. If you have speed moving to the left is a great idea, but just because your fast won't mean your going to be successful at it. Moving thru the zone and trying to hit a moving ball isn't a piece of cake. It will take a lot of practice to develop into a good slapper- my DD is working on it.

And is quite good, If I may add.

 

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Thanks Catalyst, your DD as well. Your J and my J have worked hard to develop this skill and you can tell by some of the results they have had. Talk at you later.

 

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I should have known that one.

...and if she then scores and you win 1-0?

 

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Who should learn to Slap?
-at a young age too difficult to determine what gentics she will be blessed with
-College Aspirations.What do we feel colleges want?I"m guessing if you are a power hitter,pitcher or catcher,you/d be considered.If an average righty hitter-who cares.
-Only switch if you are fast/smart/agressive and not a pitcher/catcher/power hitter
-Don't plan on immediate success.Drill this in her head.
-Not everyone is a slapper.Just cause she struggles right dont switch her.Maybe try fixing her hitting 1st or seeing a batting coach before switching her over.

I went the way I believe many don't agree with.Spent 7th grade(2nd yr. of 12's or 1st yr. 14's)(good time to experiment or waste a season) just hitting left.In the following off season focused on bunt/drag/slap after learning to hit.Come 2nd year ready to start using as a slapper.12's and against some 14's good year to be a hitter-slapper to grow before highschool and 14's.8th grade and 2nd year slapper had 1 homer over the fence and average 8 in the park home runs when teams play slap defense.Led team in runs scored.

1st year of highschool ball over heard Lakewood(very good) coaches saying to each other how do you play her as a #4 hitter when they had previous slappers?Different strategy with a slapper who hits for power espcially when you have other slappers early in the line-up?

 

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I think speed is the determining factor. Our dd is a good athlete, an aggressive base runner and has picked up slapping from the left fairly quickly, but we never pushed it because she has a higher power potential than she has speed.

 

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Power hitting Leftys that can lay down a good drag bunt when the 3rd basemen is playing back are very effective. But, and this comes from a father of 2 slappers, I can't remember a time as coach when my 3,4 or 5 hitter was up when I thought to myself..."I hope she hits a high chopper or slow roller to the SS"

 

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Yeah, that's pretty much our thinking. DD is a good bunter and can lay one down when asked. I think that's about optimum for her.

 

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3.4 home to first and 11 seconds from home to home.She must really turn it on after first base cause 11 home to home is flying

I was thinking by having her softball cleets on would be an advantage in the dirt instead of tennis shoes on a slippery gym floor,, i guess we will have to wait till nice weather to find out and also dont know if she started from the slap position or the just said go. She is an agressive baserunner.

 

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I was thinking by having her softball cleets on would be an advantage in the dirt instead of tennis shoes on a slippery gym floor,, i guess we will have to wait till nice weather to find out and also dont know if she started from the slap position or the just said go. She is an agressive baserunner.

Talked to U of Tennessee coaches down in C-Bus a few months ago and they talked about needing a 2.8 minimum to slap for them. Obviously that doesn't have anything to do with when you should learn to slap, but 11 flat home to home sounds absolutely blazing........

 

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http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1638 11.44 was the top time and these are some of the best players in Ohio. Few under 12.00

 

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First you will see very few switch hitters in softball, so pick a side and stay there and unless she can make it to first base in 2.8 or less, slapping is not going to be much of a weapon. Good slappers can also hit for power and as Tim stated the defense has to pick a poison.

She's 10 years old!

 

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I guess I would say the kid that wants to and will do the work. If you have that kid, let them learn. It is about making them better people right? The kid has a good work ethic and wants to, great. Let her learn something new.....JMO

 

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I introduce it to my entire team

A) You never know what you are going to find. I've seen some girls pick this up incredibly quickly.
B) I think it makes them more well rounded players. Not just from an offensive perspective. Yes you may get a slapper out of it, but you have also taught your entire team what a slapper is looking for, the mechanics of it, goals etc... I've seen some light bulbs turn on defensively for some players as well.

 

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When do you start the time for home to first at the contact of the ball or when you leave the box

 

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When do you start the time for home to first at the contact of the ball or when you leave the box

If you contact the ball out of the box you are out......LOL.....I KID......

I would guess after contact....

 

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http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1638 11.44 was the top time and these are some of the best players in Ohio. Few under 12.00

I had my dd check with the coach for the correct time and she was mistaken her time from home to home was 12.3 seconds i myself thought that 11 was to fast so i had here check sorry if i missled anyone, but i will say i am very proud of her time because she is only a soph and she made varsity.