Where to stand in the batter's box: Up or back?

riseball · Aug 2, 2017

CoogansBluff said:
Well, that admittedly makes some sense. I'd also think that if you're forced to throw inside, you're also gonna hit some batters, especially if you try to throw an inside curve for a strike.

As a Junior, Jake led the SEC in HBP until Carly Hoover passed her in post. You do not want to force pitchers like Jake or Hoover to throw inside as they are more than happy to oblige. Rainey Gaffin from Tennessee went there and it did not work out very well.

Conversely Jakes former teammate Nickie Blue threw a hard drop and players did very well at the back of the box. This tactic works extremely for my TB team as it keeps the catcher on her knees and it is run rabbit run.

riseball · Aug 2, 2017

YOCOACH said:
I had this discussion with Hillhouse about a year ago. He told me at the level he used to play, everyone, and I mean everyone had their back foot on the back line of the batter box. As GunnerShotgun pointed out, you're taking the catcher and umpire with you no matter where you go. I believe, right or wrong, that it makes it harder on the umpires to call a strike from further back when they don't have the batter right next to the plate as reference.

In the mens game I can see where this makes sense. What about the remaining 99% of the softball world? The answer will change depending on the level of play, the skills of the pitcher, skills of the hitter, and tactical situation. You need figure out the right thing to do given the situation.

FP26 · Aug 2, 2017

DD has a neutral stance in regards to positioning. Not up, not back... and really doesn't like to adjust it much. She prefers an open stance and pitchers will often challenge her on the outside. When she is hitting well she hits a lot of line drives to the right center gap.

riseball · Aug 2, 2017

FP26 said:
DD has a neutral stance in regards to positioning. Not up, not back... and really doesn't like to adjust it much. She prefers an open stance and pitchers will often challenge her on the outside. When she is hitting well she hits a lot of line drives to the right center gap.

If players and coaches understood the impact of an open stance on pitch calling, everyone would be using an open stance.

rdbass · Aug 2, 2017

riseball said:
If players and coaches understood the impact of an open stance on pitch calling, everyone would be using an open stance.

My DD uses an open stance also. I've also notice that coaches all try to pitch her outside for the most part. DD also stands close to the plate.

_MIA_ · Aug 2, 2017

riseball said:
If players and coaches understood the impact of an open stance on pitch calling, everyone would be using an open stance.

In a perfect world pitch calling would be based upon the player's previous performance.However at lower levels that type of information probably isn't available other
than the previous ABs from the current game.

corlay · Aug 2, 2017

riseball said:
If players and coaches understood the impact of an open stance on pitch calling, everyone would be using an open stance.

My DD's stance has evolved to "open" this season, and she is hitting very well.
We adjusted her stance open, because she tended to not engage her lower half very well,
and can feel the coil in her rear hip much better with an open stance.

If she realizes pitch calling advantages as a result also,
then that is just gravy.

MightyMO · Aug 2, 2017

Watching MLB games in person I've noticed most hitters at that level put their foot on or at the back line of the box. It doesn't matter if they are facing a 100mph flame thrower or a pitcher throwing 80mph curves. There has to be a reason the best hitters in the world do that. My guess is they are trying to get a fraction of a second more reaction time.

That being said, DD typically stands at the "middle-back" part of the box with her front foot even with the front of the plate.

TMoney · Aug 2, 2017

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, as long as you are on time.

CoogansBluff · Aug 2, 2017

TMoney said:
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, as long as you are on time.

My guess is that there is a right or wrong answer, but that we have no data to tell us what it is. By 'right or wrong', I don't mean an exact spot that fits everybody and every situation, but I suspect there would be some very significant insights into the issue if it were researched scientifically. Not sure how one would go about it, though.

Where to stand in the batter's box: Up or back?

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