Posted by: Mark H. () on Wed Feb 12 17:43:25 2003

Phil C posted a question about how to get is daughter swinging up at the ball. The discussion got off topic. There were several responses but I really didn't get the sense of answers to my question.
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> > Do you really want an upward swing? I agree that you'd rather drive the ball than hit ground balls. AND you are more likely to hit the ball in the air with an upward swing. BUT that does NOT mean that an upward swing plane is preferred.
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> > My thoughts (assume a pitch not too high or low): An optimal hit is where the bat contacts the ball just below the center (with ragards to the flight path of the ball). In fast pitch the flight path of the ball can be rising, dropping or level. With baseball, the flight path is always dropping.
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> > With a level or slight downward swing plane, this optimal contact point results in a slight backspin allowing the ball to carry farther. Also, the contact zone is larger when the swing plane is the same (or nearly the same) as the plane of the ball (favoring a level swing).
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> > While an uppercut may result in better hits against a medium high to high dropball, a level swing should produce the best overall results.
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> > Ok experts, bring it.
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> My first thought is I think it's been proven that all pitches go down, even the rise ball (it just goes down less). I don't remember if that was talked about here or on another site. But I still think the slight upswing is the best to match the plane even in softball.

Don't talk about up or down. Talk about matching swing plane to pitch path in the contact zone. Everyone agrees that, with some argument over the rise, all fastpitch pitches go down through the hitting zone. Not as steeply most of the time as baseball, but still down. If in fact the elite pitchers can actually make it go up and still be in the zone for a strike, you aren't likely to hit it anyway. And you certainly can't match swing plane so just look for something down in the zone with less than two strikes, figure it's going to be dropping, and drive it. Most high pitches of any type are sucker pitches anyway. Sit on something low, have good mechanics, and you will carry a pretty good average. Tell her to look belt buckle down with less than two strikes.

Mark H.