Baseball swing vs. Softball swing?

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Oct 4, 2016
176
18
Yeah - I don't have too many options as I'm kind of handcuffed to a certain radius for the location of the team's practices. Only found a couple in my area that we can travel to comfortably!
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Yeah - I don't have too many options as I'm kind of handcuffed to a certain radius for the location of the team's practices. Only found a couple in my area that we can travel to comfortably!

I thought the point of travel ball was to be really uncomfortable with the amount of travel.

:p ;)
 

obbay

Banned
Aug 21, 2008
2,199
0
Boston, MA
I started writing up a list of misdirections that are often taught to unknowing players and parents, this happens to be one of them.

There is no difference between the baseball swing and the softball swing- maybe in years past there was, but not anymore. Now the top coaches and hitting instructors refer to the 'Elite swing" or "high level swing" that applies to both sports. There is no difference between the swings of the top college Fastpitch players and top MLB players. the differences in swings is typically limited to pitch location. That and the bigger,stronger players (in both sports) can get away with mechanics that may not be as effective for smaller players.
 

ian

Jun 11, 2015
1,175
48
Yeah - I don't have too many options as I'm kind of handcuffed to a certain radius for the location of the team's practices. Only found a couple in my area that we can travel to comfortably!

Well then, time for plan B. This gets tricky. Odds are the coach will not change his hitting theory even after you show him video after video of high level softball players swinging exactly like high level MLB players. He may slowly adjust how he teaches hitting but it wont happen right away.

Tricky part is not offending the coach when you politely disagree with his theory. You can ask a few questions but too many questions he doesnt have answers to will offend him. If you do offend him expect to be black listed and that can affect DDs playing time. My advise is to not talk to the coach about hitting and when the coach gives 'swing flat' coaching to your DD have her nod her head and say yes coach.

There is a slight chance the coach will study the videos of high level softball players and say "you know what? You are correct! The best baseball and softball players do swing the same! Thank you Mr. New players dad, you taught me a lot!"
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
There is a slight chance the coach will study the videos of high level softball players and say "you know what? You are correct! The best baseball and softball players do swing the same! Thank you Mr. New players dad, you taught me a lot!
"


 
Oct 4, 2016
176
18
Well then, time for plan B. This gets tricky. Odds are the coach will not change his hitting theory even after you show him video after video of high level softball players swinging exactly like high level MLB players. He may slowly adjust how he teaches hitting but it wont happen right away.

Tricky part is not offending the coach when you politely disagree with his theory. You can ask a few questions but too many questions he doesnt have answers to will offend him. If you do offend him expect to be black listed and that can affect DDs playing time. My advise is to not talk to the coach about hitting and when the coach gives 'swing flat' coaching to your DD have her nod her head and say yes coach.

There is a slight chance the coach will study the videos of high level softball players and say "you know what? You are correct! The best baseball and softball players do swing the same! Thank you Mr. New players dad, you taught me a lot!"

There is another team that she worked out with last week that really liked her, her swing, her attitude, glove, arm etc. My daughter liked that team's girls better and the overall feeling she got was better so I think, unless anything else comes up on my radar to look at, she'll make her first foray into travel with them. Will be interesting as I believe they play in the same tournaments at the same level. :)
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
A good swing allows the batter to quickly adjust the "angle of attack" of the bat to the angle of the ball's trajectory.

*ON AVERAGE*, the angle of a pitched softball trajectory will be less than that of a pitched baseball. But, there is overlap when the angles are the same...e.g., a baseball pitch high in the strike zone will have the same trajectory as middle softball pitch.

Or, to put it in simpler terms, Coogan's Right.
 
Oct 4, 2016
176
18
How does a flatter swing keep the bat in the zone longer?

I can understand the argument that the trajectory of a softball pitch is slightly less downward than a baseball pitch and therefore you want slightly less uppercut. Even though I believe that to be inconsequential, I can at least respect the logic. But I don't get how a flatter swing stays in the zone longer.

I may have misunderstood what he was saying. I wasn't expecting him to try to change her swing during an informal workout like this was when she's not even on the team. I did also see him saying to my daughter and other girls that you need to be out on your front foot and that her body angle being back was wrong for softball. I was surprised to hear this but didn't say anything.
 

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
I've coach a few baseball and softball players. I coached the swing. IMO, there is no "baseball" or "softball" swing. There is simply the swing. I'll reserve my other thoughts on statements that they are different.
 

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