Injury prevention pitch right hit left?

[Dragoncoach]

I know that when you stride thousands of times a year it probabally affects your acl, and when you hit if you hit the same side you pitch (right or left) you are striding thousands more times a year on the same leg. Would it be better to switch to opposing side (hit lefty/pitch righty, etc) to prevent overworking one side and to balance out your muscles being used?

 

[Ade's Dad]

Can't answer your question, but taking a hit in your pitching arm could be devastating .

 

[TowPilot]

It is usually the top hand that gets hit in the swing. Keeping your fingers away from the ball is more important than the arm and a good reason for the switch. If concerned wear an elbow gaurd. My LHP bats right. She has gone yard 12 times this fall but I still have a college coach that laughs, shakes his head and says "thats just wrong".

 

[starsnuffer]

I think the bigger question here is, "In softball, if the batter is strong from the left side, is there ever a reason for her to hit from the right?".

-W

 

[ExplosiveGirl]

DragonCoach,

In my opinion, a right handed hitter should not be forced to become a left handed hitter. However, you are on to something! When practicing hitting, players should practice from the right and the left. This promotes muscle balance. Additionally, resistance is created on our opposite side when we pitch, hit and throw. The stronger we can make the oppsite side, the more resistance we create. That way we can get the job done faster, quicker and more efficiently. Make sense?

 

[rowdy]

Keep in mind if you change sides at the plate you expose the pitching arm.

 

[fastpitch91]

I beleive your objective is correct - balanacing the muscle development on both sides is a good idea. i doubt switch hitting will do it. A good weight program will help better than switch hitting.

My observation is if you ask a pitcher to do the standing broad jump off on leg or the other whether they are a righty or a lefty will be 12-18" obvious.