For those analyzing BB swings for a reference to hit in FP

For those analyzing baseball swings as a reference for hitting in Fastpitch...

Considering the 'always' downward trajectory of the pitch in baseball and not so in Fastpitch...

Would you consider a different approach to the ball or different bat path?

I'm asking this as I see people referencing in baseball discussions (or at least they appear to be about baseball swing discussions)
lots of swing approach and bat path /angle conversations.

Pitches still move downward in FP, just not as much...

Fastpitch is released in the strike zone to move out of the strikezone.

Baseball is released out of the strike zone going down into the strike zone.
Always downward trajectory.
Never an upward pitch.

RADcatcher said:

Fastpitch is released in the strike zone to move out of the strikezone.

Baseball is released out of the strike zone going down into the strike zone.
Always downward trajectory.

Click to expand...

Gravity is a powerful force. The path of travel is still downward. That said, baseball does have a steeper downward trajectory.

Regardless of trajectory, the underlying mechanics for elite hitters hitting a ball with a stick are still the same in both games.

Steeper downward trajectory!
Yes!

With all the critical discussion towards the baseball player videos brought this question to mind .

If the ball is traveling on a different path...
Would anyone consider making an adjustment?

RADcatcher said:

Steeper downward trajectory!
Yes!

With all the critical discussion towards the baseball player videos brought this question to mind .

If the ball is traveling on a different path...
Would anyone consider making an adjustment?

Click to expand...

Since we want the barrel path to match the pitch, there is an adjustment to be made in softball vs. baseball for swing path, but the underlying mechanics that power the barrel are the same.

Elite baseball hitters are used as a reference for swing mechanics because they are the best at hitting a ball with a bat. There are some softball players with elite mechanics, too, but baseball has more of them. A lot more of them. A softball player may have an entire playing career of 15-20 years, starting from childhood. VERY few play longer than that. Many top pros spend that many years just as professional players, getting paid to constantly work on their game. Generally speaking, college softball players match up with the level of college baseball players. When we are looking to help our players become their best, we should look to the best as our examples.

In an interview with Mike Trout he was discussing impact angle. I believe this interview was for one of the bat sensor manufacturers. I will try to find the article later...

"Most pitches come in at a +5 or +6 degree downward angle. Even going back to Ted Williams, the goal was to stay in the hitting zone as long as possible. Having a downward swing, (negative angle) will put the batter at a heavy disadvantage. The best players have a slight upper cut, +10 to +12 degrees (a line drive swing)."

The attack angle for a FP player should be slightly flatter than this but still slightly up. Maybe 5 or 6 degrees instead of the 10 to 12 degrees that Trout prefers. Same mechanics with a slight adjustment in posture.

Ahhhh, one of the wonderful misconceptions rearing its head! I think I can speak pretty strongly to this as my DD played (and was going to again this rec season, 18u, before it got cancelled) baseball to 14u when she then started playing fastpitch.

First, we have to mention spins and we're almost always discussing fastballs. If we're discussing fastballs, then a fastpitch fastball DROPS MORE than an overhand, baseball fastball. It has forward spin. A baseball fastball has back spin. It simply does not sink anywhere near as much. I've coached several girls that have made the change, and I helped guide them to that same principle. A baseball player will typically hit the top of the ball or swing over a fastpitch fastball and a fastpitch player will swing under a baseball pitch. I give it about a 2 week adjustment period when going back and forth between the two. This is what I've witnessed with my own eyes, on multiple occasions, with several players. It doesn't matter where the ball is released, the strike zone is still the strike zone. The spin is what makes all the difference in the world.

Now, if you want to discuss other spins, the only pitch that really gets my DD (and let's face it, most girls) is a true riseball. This is also a very rare to non existent thing in baseball. Only a true submariner can throw it. Most submariners are really just sidearm pitchers. Batting against a submariner becomes almost identical to batting against a fastpitch pitcher.

A baseball curve, 12-6, is exactly the same as a fastpitch fastball. A baseball slider is a fastpitch curve, and a screwball is the same on both, though very few baseball pitchers can throw a good screwball.

RADcatcher said:

For those analyzing baseball swings as a reference for hitting in Fastpitch...

Considering the 'always' downward trajectory of the pitch in baseball and not so in Fastpitch...

Would you consider a different approach to the ball or different bat path?

I'm asking this as I see people referencing in baseball discussions (or at least they appear to be about baseball swing discussions)
lots of swing approach and bat path /angle conversations.

Click to expand...

I would like to spend more time discussing softball swings. Not that they are much different but because this is DFP! Also full grown men on steroids (BB and others) have different bodies with different physical capabilities which allows them to swing differently. Please don't say steroids didn't help them hit better. If it didn't help they would not have taken them. Most fastpitch hitters are going to be more two legged and hit the ball more out front IMO. Trying to teach a 10 or 12 y/o 75 lbs. girl to swing like BB is not going to work. If we use men as examples maybe we should focus on smaller men that hit for power. Altuve type. Joey Batista is not 6 feet tall. Either is Donaldson. Guys that have to use their whole body to hit it out.

There are many physical and mental differences between males and females that cause me to study which ever gender I am teaching.

The biggest reason I use FP players rather than MLB players when working with the girls is when my granddaughter’s swing was compared to Nolan Arrenado. She quite bluntly stated, “I swing like Rachel Garcia.” Her heroes for her game are FP players.