Baseball instructors teaching fastpitch--

Most of you know my DD was a D1 pitcher. She is doing some teaching of pitching and hitting. She learned about hitting in college from a good hitting coach. She is getting some girls who were being taught by baseball players who are now teaching hitting.

As a pitcher, she developed an eye for hitters, so she can usually pick up on their weaknesses. She pitches to the girls, and after about three pitches, she can identify their weaknesses. But, she is having trouble clearly defining the swing flaw creating the weakness.

She has noticed is that many girls taught by baseball players can't hit the inside pitch. An inside pitch is one on the inside 20% of the plate. If a girl can't do something with that pitch, then she doesn't have a prayer against good pitchers.

Any ideas on why they are having so much problem with the inside pitch?

But I thought they were the same.......really, thats what everyone is saying.....

I took my DD once to see a professional hitting coach once that teaches elite baseball, including some professional players . And then we decided no, and never went back to him. I didnt like what he said vs. what the softball world (Candrea ) teaches today. Too different, too much linear body motion, I figured it would only mess her up.

He bragged that one of his fastpitch students lead her HS in triples, doubles, and homeruns. Well, its a small softball world and I knew of this girl, we'd played against her twice before in TB. She isnt my definition of a great player (even though her daddy was a well known MLB player), and she didnt do squat against our good pitching. I didnt mention to him my DD already lead her HS in HR each yr , and will probably easily eclipse the career HR record at her school too.

Not argueing either way. But you must keep the hands close to be able to hit the inside pitch , you cannot effectively adjust in once the hands move out without looking like a smacked rear. But most baseball players do that perfectly fine. So I have no idea. Not enough information for a simpleton like me.

My son was a decent baseball player, if he ever gave a lesson, it would be linear. That is what he was taught. He wouldn't know anything else. So, just because someone was a decent baseball player, doesn't mean that they can teach you to hit.

too armsy.

sluggers said:

As a pitcher, she developed an eye for hitters, so she can usually pick up on their weaknesses. She pitches to the girls, and after about three pitches, she can identify their weaknesses. But, she is having trouble clearly defining the swing flaw creating the weakness.

She has noticed is that many girls taught by baseball players can't hit the inside pitch. An inside pitch is one on the inside 20% of the plate. If a girl can't do something with that pitch, then she doesn't have a prayer against good pitchers.

Any ideas on why they are having so much problem with the inside pitch?

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Just as there are bad softball instructors, there are bad baseball instructors. In fact, I would bet that softball instruction on the whole may be better due to less dogma.

In terms of not being able to hit the inside pitch, that is often due to casting and hitting around the ball, which are general disconnection problems. It could also be due to linear cues.

P.S. I am first and foremost a baseball guy, but I sold my second DVD to a major D-1 softball program that has done very well over the years. So it's not hurting them.

Let's see, a boy swinging a 30 oz bat at a 5oz ball coming downhill, vs a girl swinging a 20 oz bat at a 7oz ball coming up hill. Yeah, sure it's the same thing, right?

-W

cochran thinks its about the same:

Cochran Applies The Kid's Approach to Softball - ARIZONA STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

I teach both boys and girls, 100% the same lessons.

My dd has attended all of my baseball camps as well as many, if not most, of the top softball hitters in our area. Same swing taught. Sluggers, I'll add this, I see a majority of pitching in softball being pitches on the outside portion of the plate. A lot of young ladies don't pull the trigger on the inside pitch because that isn't where they are looking. My dd rarely ever sees an inside pitch. I do love it when she does.

Cannonball said:

My dd has attended all of my baseball camps as well as many, if not most, of the top softball hitters in our area. Same swing taught. Sluggers, I'll add this, I see a majority of pitching in softball being pitches on the outside portion of the plate. A lot of young ladies don't pull the trigger on the inside pitch because that isn't where they are looking. My dd rarely ever sees an inside pitch. I do love it when she does.

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It's all about the battle for the inside corner; whoever commands it controls the plate. "If you can't stand the heat, don't pitch in the kitchen" - not sure it makes any sense, but I like the sound of it. Maybe sig worthy?