2nd Base? Plus slap hitting updates

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Feb 13, 2020
70
18
If you can't play one position extremely well, be able to play multiple positions reasonably well, and show an ability to learn and adapt. However, unless you're a top level pitcher or catcher, hitting is what will bring the interest. I know more than a few kids who are athletic enough and capable defensively to play ball at the highest level, but their hitting holds them back. A player who can really hit stands out immediately. If you can hit, and I mean hit off the best pitching, coaches will form a line at your door. Unless a player is very well suited to slapping and shows some good results with it, trying to add it only detracts from their ability to swing away. I know some who can't get the ball out of the infield swinging normally, and others who can but aren't allowed and are pigeon-holed.
Dd has some strength when it comes to hitting the ball and she mostly hits it out of the infield but the problem is her consistency. If dd was a consistent hitter than I would’ve outright said no to slapping but dd often has periods of time where her hitting isn’t the best. I feel like slapping would be a good tool to add to dd to try and make her a triple threat. Dd’s ambidextrous, quick (2.9 to first), and small (5’2) so I feel like she could be a decent slipper. Though if slapping turns out to not work and dd still isn’t getting it after a while than I’ll just go back to teaching her how to hit normally.

Dd is a very good cf (in my biased opinion) and she’s a decent Ss. Dd tried pitching for a bit but Im not allowed to talk about that period of her softball career;)
 
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Aug 13, 2020
29
3
I don’t know a ton about slap hitting but there is a girl on my DD’s team who slaps. Her batting average and on base % are usually pretty good. Her parents have timed her at a 3.0 and when the coaches time the kids she’s usually the fastest at 3.0-3.2. If she’s able to find decent success with slapping then your dd probably could as well judging by the fact that your dd is a bit faster which should help her beat out more throws.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Sierra Romero was moved to second base. After being all American twice, big ten player of the year and was on the path to be espn player of the year. Never heard a word from her about it. Every position is important and second base is critical, better then the bench.
 
May 27, 2013
2,353
113
Dd plays 2B when she isn’t pitching, something you don’t see too often at the 18U level. She has learned that 2B has to have a high softball IQ and know where to play the position depending on the batter and baserunner. They have to be fearless and willing to dive for balls. They need to be able to drop-step like an OF to save those would-be hits in no man’s land. They need to be quick and agile enough to get to 1B on bunts or to cut throw downs from the catcher on specific defensive plays. They need a decent arm to be able to throw home on force plays. It is not an easy position to play part-time. I’d say your dd should feel proud that her coach believes she can handle that position.

Being very good at 2B (and other positions) and being a slapper in addition to pitching helped dd get recruited to play in college. It makes her too valuable to just sit when she’s not pitching.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Dd is a very good cf (in my biased opinion) and she’s a decent Ss. Dd tried pitching for a bit but Im not allowed to talk about that period of her softball career;)

Lol...I tried twice with DD...two different times with two different pitching coaches. It's amazing how someone so consistent throwing the ball overhand could suck so bad trying to windmill. Didn't catch the age, but that sounds like a solid plan.
 
Feb 13, 2020
70
18
Dd plays 2B when she isn’t pitching, something you don’t see too often at the 18U level. She has learned that 2B has to have a high softball IQ and know where to play the position depending on the batter and baserunner. They have to be fearless and willing to dive for balls. They need to be able to drop-step like an OF to save those would-be hits in no man’s land. They need to be quick and agile enough to get to 1B on bunts or to cut throw downs from the catcher on specific defensive plays. They need a decent arm to be able to throw home on force plays. It is not an easy position to play part-time. I’d say your dd should feel proud that her coach believes she can handle that position.

Being very good at 2B (and other positions) and being a slapper in addition to pitching helped dd get recruited to play in college. It makes her too valuable to just sit when she’s not pitching.
I’m hoping to give dd as many chances to get to play in college as possible. I want her to be a fielder who can play every position that is just too valuable to sit and a hitter who is consistent and valuable. In order to do that I want dd to learn many positions that her skills suit and learn many different forms of hitting (like slapping and drag bunting). I’m hoping that dd will get faster during her last few years of puberty cause right now while her 2.9 is a good quick speed I’ve been told that 2.8 is a good slapper speed. Though I feel like a 2.9 should be a good speed for someone who’s a triple threat and not a 100% slapper.
 
Jun 4, 2019
134
43
What’s so bad or difficult about 2nd? I always found it to be easy. When you are used to the left side, 2B seems like you have all day to get her out.
 
Feb 13, 2020
70
18
What’s so bad or difficult about 2nd? I always found it to be easy. When you are used to the left side, 2B seems like you have all day to get her out.
I mean dd has no personal hatred for 2nd the only thing she knows about it is what her friend says and she’s not a big fan. Dd’s more worried than she is upset. She’s worried cause she’s never played 2nd in an actual game and she doesn’t want to let her new team down.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
I mean dd has no personal hatred for 2nd the only thing she knows about it is what her friend says and she’s not a big fan. Dd’s more worried than she is upset. She’s worried cause she’s never played 2nd in an actual game and she doesn’t want to let her new team down.
Without seeing any video of player op referring to. Think recall she's a senior?
General feedback

Here is something to consider.
*when she is playing, showcasing and colleges are watching~
Would you rather her look comfortable and confident in her position?
And let the College Coaches evaluate her skills in a position she already knows? They can make the deision later if they need her to play somewhere else?
Or
Have her playing in a position she doesnt know, posibly not play the right angles, and colleges see a player already in 18's kinda look dorky?
Just sayin'
Remember colleges may NOT know this creative plan of yours to develop late bloomed possible skill sets. And neat plan but this may have been better to start it a few years ago.

imo~ for showcasing
it is better to go on the field and do what we do best,
Than to figure out on the field what others are already doing better.
 
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Nov 30, 2018
359
43
Marikina, Philippines
So Dd has had a few practices since I last posted on here asking about slap hitting. She has begun practicing with her coach on how to slap and is really enjoying it. She really likes hitting from the left side and is pretty excited to keep learning. So far her progress has been good. We still need to work on her foot work but she’s been making surprisingly good contact in practice. Any feedback would be appreciated!

I have been teaching slapping since the 1980's. What I would say is the footwork is of emminent importance, but too often taught with contact as a "packge" in training. I will only point out a couple of things rather than write a treatise on every nuance.

Teach the step-through as;
  • bringing the HEEL of the left foot through leading the 2nd step, or left foot. Is it possible to lead with the heel? No! Just a figure of speech, but make the effort. Doing so causes the left foot to come through with the "instep" facing the pitcher.
    • The first step back on the right foot should also be done so that the right toe does not turn toward the infield.
    • not taking a step through and ending up with the toe pointed toward the pitcher opens up the front or right shoulder, pulling off the plate and giving up the preferred outer half of the plate.
    • The heel first technic will automatically plant the front toe pointed toward SS.
  • Basic: early in the process I teach slapping as a form of "pepper", and you can set up a target at the "5.5 hole", preferably a screen they can just slap the ball into.
    • the swing should be kept short. I have my students place the barrel against the back shoulder at first.
    • The hands should be above the ball, but the derivative of "chopping" is the most difficult to master. I teach the soft-slap and power-slap first.
    • The swing is NOT shoulder to shoulder on the soft-slap. Indeed, ideally full extention of bat and arms would STOP in a straight line toward that 5.5 hole target, but that will depend on timing and pitch location.
  • Lastly, contact is best made during the second step, as the right foot catches up even with the left foot.
    • This provides the best balance and un-restricted shoulder orientation (closed and aligned from catcher to pitcher).
    • Provides the most slap power once the hard-slap is added.

    Here are two Filipina I started teaching slapping to. This is fairly far along on the basics and they are flawed in their footwork, but we only had 3 hours start to finish to make the video.
 

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