Actually, a fastpitch pitcher can throw a pitch with an upward trajectory as it releases from her hand but she can not make a ball rise. In other words, it is practically impossible to get a ball to move to a higher trajectory once it leaves the pitchers hand.
rotational hitting: bat path
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Actually, a fastpitch pitcher can throw a pitch with an upward trajectory as it releases from her hand but she can not make a ball rise. In other words, it is practically impossible to get a ball to move to a higher trajectory once it leaves the pitchers hand.
- Oct 25, 2009
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The rise ball doesn't have to "jump" to be effective. The right trajectory and depending on where it is when the batter judges ball or strike is what makes it so effective. IOW, if a pitcher throws a fastball down the middle and gets away with it, her rise ball will be very effective on the next pitch. The batter will be thinking down the middle but the ball will be on a higher trajectory and the batter will swing under it for either a popup or a strike.
Rise ball just sounds better than rising ball.
Rise ball just sounds better than rising ball.
Great question. Discussion of rise ball misses the point. The point is the trajectory of a rise ball thrown underhand from a 5'5" pitcher standing on a flat mound will have a substantially different trajectory than a 6-12 backspin fastball thrown by a 6' pitcher throwing overhand from a 10" mound.
I am wondering if a slight upswing is ideal in either game due more to the physics of an optimum hit. In the physics of baseball the author describes a 10 degree upward swing and a 35' exit angle for maximum distance. I wonder if this applies to softball as well.
Talk about matching the swing to the plane of the pitch, is this really what batters do? When Zito throws the ball that breaks down tremendously do MLB hitters take a huge uppercut at it?
I am wondering if a slight upswing is ideal in either game due more to the physics of an optimum hit. In the physics of baseball the author describes a 10 degree upward swing and a 35' exit angle for maximum distance. I wonder if this applies to softball as well.
Talk about matching the swing to the plane of the pitch, is this really what batters do? When Zito throws the ball that breaks down tremendously do MLB hitters take a huge uppercut at it?
Mr. T -
You're right, we've still not answered the original question. Regardless of whether balls rise or not, the trajectory is different for baseball and softball.
Does that change the swing? Would a swing in baseball be more 'upward' and for fastpitch be more 'level'? How will it look different?
You're right, we've still not answered the original question. Regardless of whether balls rise or not, the trajectory is different for baseball and softball.
Does that change the swing? Would a swing in baseball be more 'upward' and for fastpitch be more 'level'? How will it look different?
- Oct 25, 2009
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I believe the angle of the swing will depend on the location of the pitch, no matter the trajectory. The lower the pitch location the more upward the swing. The higher the pitch location the more level the swing. Baseball or softball.
view softball clips of the best and you will see tilted shoulders at contact and an upercut swing finishing higher. you will also see the hands above the barrell at contact. I think this angled bat makes hitting a ball thats changing planes either up or down easier to hit. It also helps you get to extension if you stay strong with the wrist, extend bat toward field and finish high. (feels like you get more power also)
If you use software like RVP, you can do side by side or 4 way viewing of the best in softball and baseball clip by clip. Style can always be different but the swings are basically the same.
By the time the ball crosses the plate the trajectories are pretty close. As a practical matter there should be no difference in basic swing mechanics. Obviously batters have to adjust to each pitch.
- Oct 25, 2009
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That makes sense. When you consider how much of the distance the ball travels along the trajectory that the batter is actually concerned about it makes hardly any difference. About 18 inches maybe? As far as the actual targeted point of contact. And that sounds like way too much—maybe 8 inches.
- Oct 12, 2009
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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.
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