rotational hitting: bat path

[softballphreak]

In all of the video I have shot, I have yet to see a fastpitch pitch (even a riseball) that doesn't tip over, and start falling, before the point of contact.

Trajectory-wise, the fastpitch riseball is the equivalent of a baseball 4-seamer up.

The result is that a softball and a baseball cross the plate at comparable downward angles and the swings are the same.

I agree that the swings are about the same at the plate but I've seen plenty of pitches that are still rising (or even flat) as they cross the plate. We're only talking 43', so even at the HS level pitches can overcome gravity enough to accomplish that. Plus they're pitching on the same plane, not from a mound, overhanded.

Now slow pitch is a little different. But even there the swing angle is pretty much the same; except for those fence swingers.