Posted by: Louy R. () on Mon Jun 18 20:10:08 2001

I am not sure the swings are exactly the same. One of Mike Epstein's absolutes are that the plane of the swing matches the plane of the pitch. Since baseball pitches begin over the pitcher's head, while softball pitches come in from around knee level, one would conclude that baseball pitches come in with more downward movement. Therefore, I beleive the softball swing should be more level (to the ground)than a baseball swing, where a slight uppercut is preferrable.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I am hearing of more and more fastpitch players being taught to swing down into the ball ... Does anyone here see the need to hit fistpitch softball any different than baseball.
> > > > > Jack, wouldnt the swings still be the same?
> > >
> > > BsH-
> > >
> > > One of the best answers ever to this question is from early '99 on Paul Nyman's website,and is still on the money.
> > >
> > > www.setpro.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000025.html
> > >
> > > The best power swing is as Jack describes here.The trajectories of pitches are often flatter in softball,but most are still dropping.Reaction time is about the same as for baseball.The ball is bigger and heavier.Groundballs are worth more in softball.
> > > As Paul mentions due to lack of strength and lack of expeience most girls end up getting taught to compensate(usually the coach doesn't realize what they are teaching) for this with suboptimal mechanics.The usual idea is that using a downward arm swing will make better contact and produce grounders/low hits that will generate offense given the short basepaths.I don't believe the offensive stats bear this out,and I believe girls can be taught the power swing described here with better results.
> > >
> > > Theoretically and practically,the swing described by Jack is quicker to the ball,more powerful,on the plane of the pitch longer and with less timing error.You can use a heavier bat without sacrificing much,if any batspeed.A heavier bat plus the fact that you are swinging on a matching plane imparts more energy to the ball at collision.Even if you use more of an upright axis,there should be some lift to the swing plane which gives excellent power that is just as effective if not more so than ground balls.
> > >
> > > Most girls start to swing with their arms before the stride foot is down causing prmature extension of the hand path/lunging and the lineear mechanics Jack mentions.Making the transition to a rotational swing powered by torso turn and good transfer mechanics will require learning a new grip,keeping the hands back during the stride,then rotating around a stationary axis and keeping the hands in a circular path driven by torso turn,not the arms;and applying torque from initiation to contact.
> > >
> > > A good way to start is to focus on crowding the plate and learning "bottom hand torque" for turning on the middle-in pitch.Pitchers are not used to getting beaten on the inside stuff.
> >
> > Hitting is fast pitch is based on the idea of a "rise" ball- a ball that curves up. This is in possible as proved in many studies and test. It can't happen in base ball either.
> >
> > But softball people insist that the ball rises therefore they must swing down. I assure you, you will not change their mind no matter the evidence. I have tried. As a result they teach what they teach.
> >
> > The truly amazing thing is that with such poor performance, a team batting average under 200 is not unusual, parents, coaches, kids and paid instructors keep teaching the hitters these unsuccessful mechanics.
> >
> > Go figure.
> >
> > Louy R. I agree with those who advocate rotationalmechanics for the softball swing and it certainly appears that the riser does rise but its like a splitter in the dirt in hardball in that you only swing at it if you have been fooledby the pitch. it almost always ends up too high and out of the strike zone so the better players stay off it thepitcher generally has to then bring it down into the zone and out she goes.


The scientific evidence shows that a baseball cannot curve up. A hard ball thrown at 100 mph at 55 feet drops 2.61 inches. This is due to gravity and wind resistance. Also, a base ball is thrown over hand which gives it the maximum backward spin that would be required to make a ball rise. This cannot be done with a underhand throw.

You can't compare a ball droping with a ball rising. Droping is the natural thing for a ball to do. Why does a rise ball have to be high? why can they throw it low and have it break up into the strike zone. No one could hit it.

In the book "Keep Your Eye On The Ball" give a good explination and the math on the "rise ball." But beleiving there is a rise ball when there can't be a rise ball is a good example of why hitting in softball is in a dismal state and won't get any better.

Louy R.