Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sat May 5 10:47:31 2001

>>> My question is this, what should the differences be- if any- between a baseball swing and a slo-pitch softball swing?? <<<

Hi Carlos

To hit a baseball or softball hard requires that maximum bat speed be attained by contact. Good mechanics will accelerate a softball bat just as well as a baseball bat. Of course, timing and the angle of the swing plane may vary from baseball to slo-pitch and fast-pitch, but good basic transfer mechanics remains the same.

One of the main reasons baseball or softball hitters cannot really drive the ball is a combination of poor mechanics and using a lightweight bat. Using a lightweight bat allows a hitter to bring the bat to contact using the smaller muscle groups – mainly relying on extending the arms. A lightweight bat and average bat speeds is not a formula for hitting the ball hard. But swinging a bat with more substance at a good velocity will require more efficient mechanics that use the larger muscles of the legs and torso.

Jack Mankin