Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat Dec 6 11:03:43 2008

>>> Hi Jack. I agree with you, but I think the purpose of the question was to make sure the answer was the same for a pitch that is in some instances actually going up (in softball)rising rather than the high pitch fastball leveling out (in baseball) for which the pitch does not actually rise (unless the pitcher pitches like Bi Yung Yung Kim). <<<

Hi THG

I have often pondered the question you raise. -- Would a baseball hitter need to change his swing plane for pitches angling up in the zone rather than downward? I got my answer studying hitter’s swing planes during the resent World Series. I do not recall the ‘submarine’ pitches name but I noted his release point was only 8 to 9 inches above the ground. That is about 18 inches lower than the release point of most fastpitch pitchers.

I had taped the entire series and found no swing plane adjustments for regular to ‘submarine’ releases. The planes were about the same for both with any given pitch height (knees, belt, letters).

Jack Mankin