Posted by: ssarge (ssarginson@earthlink.net) on Fri Jan 16 20:33:14 2004

Does this swing transfer well to fastpitch
> > softball? An upward swing is fine for baseball,
> > as the pitcher is throwing from an elevation. The
> > swing also looks long. Reaction time in fastpitch
> > softball is typically less than baseball.
>
> The reaction time (.45sec) is the same for a 90 mph baseball as a 60 mph softball, and since the distance for softball is going to be moved back to 43' one will have more reaction time in softball than baseball. I have never understood where the shorter reaction time idea came from.


Jim,

I share your point of view, particularluy in that my interest is JO softball. However, in Men's softball, the reaction time is probably less. The rubber is 46', and because of the leap the men's pitcher's are allowed, the release point seems to be about 39-40'. The top pitchers reach velocity of 80+ MPH, so that is pretty short reaction time. Of course, rotational mechanics do offer the best opportunity to hit any pitching for both average and power. Inarguable, I think. OI would allow that a linear hand path generating a hit to the opposite field may be a pretty short swing as well. But to my mind, not effective for more than placement hitting. It would also work best for a LH batter so that they can force a long throw. being extremely fast wouldn't hurt either.