- Jun 7, 2013
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A good slapper not only puts pressure on a defense but also can drive up the pitch count on a pitcher. I think slapping should be treated as bunting and if you foul a third strike slap it should be an out.
I totally agree.
A good slapper not only puts pressure on a defense but also can drive up the pitch count on a pitcher. I think slapping should be treated as bunting and if you foul a third strike slap it should be an out.
A good slapper not only puts pressure on a defense but also can drive up the pitch count on a pitcher. I think slapping should be treated as bunting and if you foul a third strike slap it should be an out.
I have only coached at the rec. level but my daughter is playing her first year of 10U ASA travel ball, so my experience is limited. I have found, however, that the girls on our team trying slapping don't seem to be having much success. Most of them can't hit well yet with their feet firmly planted let alone trying to hit while they are running. It seems much easier to me to hit a line drive than slap. Running while the ball is coming at you (and often breaking) seems tough. I thought the D1 game was moving away from slapping and more toward a power game, but I can't remember where I heard that. Nonetheless, I like the idea of challenging the conventional wisdom. If a girl can consistently hit the ball while running toward 1st, that is a pretty effective strategy to get on base, but I have some doubts that there are that many players (at least at the lower levels) that can do it.
If I'm coaching I want my number one hitter to get on base a lot. I don't care how they do it. If they are a good slapper or if they just get up and hammer the ball, I really don't care. I see so many teams that just fire up a slapper number 1 and all I can think of is we start the game with 1 out. I think some coaches just fall in love with the fact that you can hit a chopper to SS and beat it out versus some other kids who just gets base hits. Once you get on first it doesn't matter how you got there.