Louisiana Lafayette split grip technique...anyone use it or have DD use it?

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Mar 6, 2016
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Was watching a replay of a 2013 (I think) game yesterday on ESPN and LL Ragin Cajuns were playing Auburn and almost every hitter for LL used the split grip and open stance their coach (Lotief) is/was known for.

At the time back then I remember it and how different it seemed to be...and productive! I think LL led the NCAA in HRs for a few years straight. I dabbled with it w my older DD when she was just beginning at 8u and 10u but it was so "awkward" for her we kinda just stopped and forgot about using it again.

Anyones DD ever use it? Thoughts on why more dont use it? It seemed very effective and produced a lot of big HR numbers...but I dont ever see it much.
 
Jan 27, 2010
1,871
83
NJ
I introduced it to DD at around 14U. She didn't use it all the time but if the pitcher was pretty good and she got deep in the count she'd shorten the bat about 1" and open her hands a bit. This resulted in better control of the bat but reduced power. It was very effective for staying alive and finding one to put in play.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113

51 pages lol, There is a bunch of good stuff there. A lot of good video that isn’t available which is a shame.

Starts getting good at page 6&7. I’m going to re-read the whole thing
 
Last edited:

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
DD is a split hand hitter. And I wouldn't say she looks conventional (though when you go slo-mo on her swing you see most of the common HLS components)

It is one of the reasons I don't post video of her hitting except amongst friends. Last time I did was on a HR that went 240' against a Power-5 committed pitcher and there was 200+ comments on how she would never be a good hitter.

I mean she bat #3 or #5 for a top level Florida A team and had excellent stats. She is off to college in a few weeks so I guess she isn't changing now...
 
Mar 6, 2016
383
63
well.... that all depends upon the ego and "control-freakness" of her new coach, I suppose. ;)

I thought that same thing but for the girls who went to LL. Imagine playing 10-11 yrs and playing high level ball and obviously good enough to play D1 hitting the way you have....and go to LL and the coach wants you to switch to the split grip? I dont know if he forced them to switch or not...but in watching their games...there were not many that did not use the split grip. That would be a tough mental challenge in itself to try something so different.
 
Jan 6, 2009
6,591
113
Chehalis, Wa
I thought that same thing but for the girls who went to LL. Imagine playing 10-11 yrs and playing high level ball and obviously good enough to play D1 hitting the way you have....and go to LL and the coach wants you to switch to the split grip? I dont know if he forced them to switch or not...but in watching their games...there were not many that did not use the split grip. That would be a tough mental challenge in itself to try something so different.

I remember one of the players for LL saying it takes a couple of years to learn.
 
Feb 16, 2015
933
43
South East
I thought that same thing but for the girls who went to LL. Imagine playing 10-11 yrs and playing high level ball and obviously good enough to play D1 hitting the way you have....and go to LL and the coach wants you to switch to the split grip? I dont know if he forced them to switch or not...but in watching their games...there were not many that did not use the split grip. That would be a tough mental challenge in itself to try something so different.

Most of the girls that Coach Lotief recruited had a very similar build. He didn’t care if you could actually hit or not because he could/would teach you how to hit, take Lexie Elkins for example.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
Most of the girls that Coach Lotief recruited had a very similar build. He didn’t care if you could actually hit or not because he could/would teach you how to hit, take Lexie Elkins for example.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pretty sure Elkins would of been a successful hitter wherever she played.. Also AB's I've seen from here she wasn't using split grip. I could be misunderstanding you her, but not sure Elkins is the best example to use?
 
Last edited:
Mar 28, 2014
1,081
113
I thought that same thing but for the girls who went to LL. Imagine playing 10-11 yrs and playing high level ball and obviously good enough to play D1 hitting the way you have....and go to LL and the coach wants you to switch to the split grip? I dont know if he forced them to switch or not...but in watching their games...there were not many that did not use the split grip. That would be a tough mental challenge in itself to try something so different.
He didn't force them to use it. It was a drill that he used and some of the girls liked it so much they used it as their game swing.

I use it as a drill with my DD for the top hand aspect.
 

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