Looking for guidance, helping one arm player.

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Oct 19, 2009
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DD who is now an assistant HS softball coach and also helps the middle school. Middle school has Varsity and B team. One of the b team players has only one arm, but is dedicated to the sport and wants to play. DD advised she is small for her size, athletic and quick.

DD is working with her on slapping and on improving her exchange from glove to throwing arm. I sent her some video from the you tube on one arm players. She asked me for advise, bit I never worked with a one arm player before.

Does anyone have experience on working with a one arm player on hitting and exchange from glove to throwing hand?
 
Last edited:
Sep 29, 2014
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I think the best you could do is watch others via you tube who have done it (there are several out there) then work with her on finding what works best for her.

For batting slapping is probably not a bad idea if she is quick but then also work in driving punching the ball through the infield it will probably catch many teams off guard.

Biggest thing is stay positive and it sound like she has a good attitude which is key. Good Luck
 

rdbass

It wasn't me.
Jun 5, 2010
9,131
83
Not here.
I just saw a girl playing with one arm. Girl batted and played first. The girl was missing her left arm. Batted right handed and took full swings. I think playing first is workable possible 2nd. The glove exchange in a timely manner is the biggest hurdle to master dependent on the position. Also as far as batting, I would have her batting from the side that has her grip the bat from the top hand position. I hope that make sense. I also would be thinking of a lighter bat. I hope your player has success.
Jim Abbott comes to mind:
th
 
Last edited:
Oct 19, 2009
1,827
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Thanks for the reply guys, the girl plays first and right field. I heard my dad talk of a one armed outfielder for the Chattanooga Lookouts when he was a kid, the player's name was Pete Gray, dad saw him hit a home run out of Engel Stadium in one game.

Video of Pete Gray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UG6bxkq5L4
 
Feb 4, 2015
127
0
Olathe, KS
As for batting one handed. She should choke up to about the middle of a where a two handed grip would be. That is the point on the bat grip that bats are designed around. She should swing with the lead hand in the swing (think lower hand in a two handed swing). There was a wounded warrior in the All Star Game Celebrity Softball game that had a prosthetic that attached to the bat that allowed him to swing with "two" hands. We had a kid that played on our high school team that was in a Nike commercial a few years back. Go to Youtube as there is a bunch of videos on boys and girls that play and excel in baseball and softball one handed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYd5myryOGI
 

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