Slap Hitting Batting Averages

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Oct 16, 2008
164
18
SE Michigan
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
 
Aug 4, 2008
2,364
0
Lexington,Ohio
Signed to play college ball . Slapper since she was 12 and has worked with elite players. Mid 300's as a high school slapper, because we keep accurate books and track ROE's. As her present college coach watched her play 9 out of 11 times she was up to bat she got on base. Most colleges coaches have told me BA is worthless , they want a leadoff hitter slapper to get on base period. I have coached in high school for years and I do not trust batting averages. I watched an all Ohio play in the regionals and every time she was up they gave her a hit. None were a hit if we were keeping the books. Her batting average as turned into the coaches who voted last year was over 500. Plus not to get me started, none of her Stolen bases were DI's. Since her coach had no clue what defense Indifference is. She is in the state record books now for stolen bases last year! On Base % is probably a better measure but even that doesn't give you a true measure, since it doesn't include ROE's. Speed forces the defense to make mistakes. Many coaches asked us to supply that stat to them along with BA, Walks, On Base %. The dd lead her high school team and travel team in On Base %, Walks , Run Scored , and stolen base the last couple of years. Not telling you what to look at , but I would trust BA as a measure of an effective slapper.
Sorry but the out right cheating or poor record keeping is a different subject. Ask Lhowser about a player stats as published by a local college of a player. If you do the math on batting average and on base %, she had over 50 walks, which we know is impossbile in high school based on game played.
 
Last edited:
Aug 4, 2008
2,364
0
Lexington,Ohio
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.
 
Mar 3, 2010
208
0
Suburb of Chicago, IL
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.
 
May 8, 2012
127
16
NJ
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
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
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.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
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
 
Nov 5, 2009
549
18
St. Louis MO
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.
 
Sep 18, 2011
1,411
0
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.
 

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