Thread: Slap Hitting Batting Averages

I'm a big fan of slap hitting for some players...been an instructor for several years. I'm interested in understanding if my players are achieving results similar to other slappers. I understand that there are numerous challenges to making accurate comparisons but believe it's worth a shot at asking for some info.

To keep it simple, I'm asking that you post the approximate most recent batting average or your daughter(s), player(s) or friend(s) who are primarily slappers...defined as using a cross step to bunt or hit at least 50% of her swings. I'd like to limit to HS age players. I'm only asking to list batting average and indicate experience....defined as more than 1 full year of slapping in games.

Here's my list for players I have worked with in the last 2 years. Thanks.

560 experienced
525 experienced
485 experienced
480 experienced
420 experienced
295 experienced
450
360
320
315
315
300
275
270

I pretty much agree with what SBFAMILY said but was thinking that batting average would be most readily available....my bad.

It's a good question and I'm sure some on here will learn that college coaches are not stupid. There was a college coach watching the game that I mentioned above and noticed they gave the kid hits that were ROE's. Coaches that cheat are not helping that kid at all. Coaches walk away with the opinion none of her stats mean a thing. Then that coach and team is black balled . It's not just high school, it's travel ball as well. The head coach at Hillsdale college up in your area, and I have discussed this issue.

DD's high school had four slappers in a row (9-1-2-3) in the batting order. Kept them that way all season. All season it seemed like it was four outs in a row... mostly routine 4-3 put outs. (groan)

Personally I find nothing worse than someone that "claims" to be a great slapper and in reality all they are is an out waiting to happen. Then you hear "My DD hasn't struck out all year!" (well she hasn't been on base all year either). Sorry to vent... H.S. season is coming and I am somewhat dreading the "slapping!"


btw... I have nothing against players that can actually slap and get the job done.

Originally Posted by Goobie

DD's high school had four slappers in a row (9-1-2-3) in the batting order. Kept them that way all season. All season it seemed like it was four outs in a row... mostly routine 4-3 put outs. (groan)

Personally I find nothing worse than someone that "claims" to be a great slapper and in reality all they are is an out waiting to happen. Then you hear "My DD hasn't struck out all year!" (well she hasn't been on base all year either). Sorry to vent... H.S. season is coming and I am somewhat dreading the "slapping!"


btw... I have nothing against players that can actually slap and get the job done.

ouch....4-3 hurts...wrong side, unless trying to protect a runner. yeah, i can understand your feelings with that

In high school ball my daughter usually carried a batting average in the high 400's, but I really dont consider school ball a good indicator as they see so many sub par teams. Club ball was low 400's, juco also was high 300's to low 400's and D1 ball was mid 300's her jr year and her sr year was 390. But, she has really never been strictly a pure slapper. Her first couple of years batting left side she was a pure slapper, but as she developed she began to learn to read the defense and knew when to swing away vs slapping or bunting. She also got quite pretty good at taking off catchers gloves when they were dumb enough to crowd her.

On base % is a far better number for me to gauge a player... its amazing how easily the books can be "cooked" by a book keeper who either doesn't know or is just plain cheating.(stuff like giving a base on an error or a fielders choice). I know a guy who kept the books for his dd's hs team her senior year. Anyone want to guess who won the batting title that year? Ding ding ding... we got a winner! Tell him what he's won, Bob!... a brand new shinny unearned trophy, High School batting averages are usually BS

Lead off hitter for DDs high school team was a pure slapper, power and soft. She led the team this year in BA at .493 and was second last year.
DD slaps and swings away, HS BA .452. A level travel, .386.

I could be totally off, but I followed two teams pretty closely last year. DD's team and the older 14U team in her org. The slappers on the two teams were great, getting on base, wreaking havoc, scoring runs, etc. UNTIL they faced elite competition. Then the slappers couldn't buy a hit. I mean nothing.