Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Fri Jan 14 12:29:27 2005

>>> Is this swing appropriate for fastpitch softball? If so are there any modifications that need to be made to "unleash" the swing more quickly considering that in fastpitch softball the ball gets to the hitter (from 35 to 40 ft)more quickly than in baseball. Are there any videos etc. showing this swing specifically for fastpitch softball?
Thanks <<<

Hi Terry

Welcome to the site. – You are basically asking if the rotational swing is quick enough for fastpitch softball. The answer is yes.

We get a better perspective for the swing time required by breaking the time into two parts. The first is the reaction time the batter has to read the trajectory of the incoming pitch and make the ‘go-no-go’ decision. Once the ‘go’ decision is made, the second part is the swing time it takes to bring the bat from the launch position to contact.

The pitch read time may be shorter for fastpitch, but once the ‘go’ decision is made, rotational mechanics can bring the bat from launch to contact in less time than the mechanics exhibited by most fastpitch hitters. Even with the lighter softball bats, batters using more linear mechanics require 5 to 6 frames to bring the bat to contact. Bonds and Sosa require 4 to 5 frames.

You asked, “Are there any videos etc. showing this swing specifically for fastpitch softball?” – The rotational mechanics for baseball and softball are the same. Therefore, there is no need for specific videos.

Jack Mankin