Posted by: ray porco () on Sun Aug 26 18:31:45 2001

It seems the only posts responded to are those related to the video.
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> As a recreational softball player, I have recently been soaking up all the info on hitting I can from the internet. Over the past two weeks I have posted 2 questions that I tought were intelligent. One regarding if there are any differences in the mechanics described in this site for fast vs. slow pitch ball. The other was regarding the pros/cons of installing a cone taper on a softball bat, for improved grip. Neither has gotten any response from any members or the board owner.
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> The title at the top of the page says "A frank and open-minded discussion of the baseball and softball swing should be a benefit to all." If this is not the case, please tell me and I will not waste any more of my or your time.


rh,

you have given this board a deserved tongue-lashing. your observations and assumptions are correct, and your questions are intelligent. i'm sorry to report that, while i truly wish to help, i can't. i don't know jack about softball.
BUT,
i can share with you my personal opion of a tapered grip. many moons ago, when i was still hackin', i used to tape the bottom of the grip.
i would start about 1 1/2" (two fingers worth) above the knob, creating a taper almost (but not quite) flush to the knob. i used adhesive tape (ohhh, the hooorrrrrorrr). what a bloody mess.
the reason was, i used to lay my pinky over the knob, and two fingers worth of tapered tape permitted my middle and ring finger to allow my pinky a smooth transition.
now why did i want my pinky over the knob? fair question.
well, a former coach of mine, would tell us that choking up moves your hands closer to the sweet spot and you have greater control. you also have less power, and that's what i really wanted. so i figured if i move my hands further away, then.....
believe me, i wouldn't have kept taping and bleeding, if i didn't think it worked.
another reason - i felt i had more plate coverage. a 1/2", ---well even if it didn't, i thought it.
another reason - i have big hands.

question for you?
why are slowpitch bats tapered and fastpitch bats standard?
and why are fastpitch bats shaped differently?

yours in baseball,
ray porco