Switching Throwing from Lefty to Righty

leftypitchermom · Oct 27, 2014

My husband and I have been having a discussion and we do not agree. He wants to switch my 10 year old daughter who is a true lefty (bats and throw LEFT handed as well as pitches left handed) to throw right handed (not pitch just throw) so that she will have more positions in the infield (since around here no one will let her play anything but 1st base and outfield) and her travel team is heavy on 1st basemen (the rest are right handed but can't play any other position because they are too slow and can't move well and/or don't have an arm to throw from 3rd to 1st) so she is playing outfield when she is not pitching. I say that will completely mess her up and is unnecessary! Thoughts?

SoAZDad · Oct 27, 2014

I don't recommend it. Nothing wrong with outfield

sbmom19 · Oct 27, 2014

SoAZDad said:
I don't recommend it. Nothing wrong with outfield

Why do so many parents think that outfield is a punishment???

quincy · Oct 27, 2014

I understand what DH is thinking, I would think switching to righty might only open up 2nd for her.

I am not sure how much she pitches but C should be open to her too. I would rather spend my time working on OF and maybe C then switching throwing arms.

kenb63 · Oct 27, 2014

dantay17 said:
Why do so many parents think that outfield is a punishment???

Me too. I tune out when I hear that. My DD is a natural lefty and it never crossed my mind to have here try to throw RH. Leave her be and work on her natural throwing, fielding and hitting. Perhaps if her hitting is really good she'll make 1B over the slow girls, whom I assume are on the team because of their bats.

Eugene Stryke · Oct 27, 2014

Switching a player's hitting side is okay, but throwing is entirely different. It's not done, and there could even be negative repercussions beyond softball is my understanding.

SoAZDad · Oct 27, 2014

Leftypitchermom,

Has your husband looked at other TB teams that could use a left-handed fielder and pitcher?

Amy in AZ. · Oct 27, 2014

Your husband is a nut case.

Sweet Lou · Oct 27, 2014

Eugene Stryke said:
Switching a player's hitting side is okay, but throwing is entirely different. It's not done, and there could even be negative repercussions beyond softball is my understanding.

I haven't heard that.

A famous baseball story is Billy Wagner was a natural right handed thrower growing up. he broke his right arm one year as a kid but loved pitching so much he taught himself to throw left handed. The rest as they say is history as he went on to arguably be the best left handed relief pitcher ever.

That said I agree with others who say the OP's husband is nuts. Nothing wrong with the outfield, 1st base and/or catcher - though catcher would be very tough with pitcher as her primary position.

softballphreak · Oct 27, 2014

leftypitchermom said:
My husband and I have been having a discussion and we do not agree. He wants to switch my 10 year old daughter who is a true lefty (bats and throw LEFT handed as well as pitches left handed) to throw right handed (not pitch just throw) so that she will have more positions in the infield (since around here no one will let her play anything but 1st base and outfield) and her travel team is heavy on 1st basemen (the rest are right handed but can't play any other position because they are too slow and can't move well and/or don't have an arm to throw from 3rd to 1st) so she is playing outfield when she is not pitching. I say that will completely mess her up and is unnecessary! Thoughts?

That is one of the craziest things I've heard! She is 10 years old! She will be just fine if the focus is on letting her have fun. Just to be sure there's no misunderstanding, fun does not mean she isn't going to work hard. Most kids have the most fun when the work is challenging; and the least fun when there is no work.

Be proud you've got a lefty! There'll be many opportunities for her!!!

Switching Throwing from Lefty to Righty

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

leftypitchermom

SoAZDad

sbmom19

quincy

kenb63

Eugene Stryke

SoAZDad

Amy in AZ.

Sweet Lou

softballphreak

Similar threads

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page

Online statistics

Forum statistics