Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Jan 4 10:29:10 2002

Most coaches in our area teach the Linear batting style ( throw the hands at the ball with bottom hand leading the way), my daughters pitching coach (from the west coast) explained the benefits and advantages to trying a rotational style. My nephew and his girlfriend both are in collage and play D1 ball (soft-her & base-him) we had a long visit over the hollidays and they explained the power benfits of rotational hitting. They both had no good points for the linear method.
> > My daughter is playing 12U A travel ball and still its hard to find a qualified coach to teach this style. Most had seen it before but no real experts. Where do I find a good coach of a style I myself do not understand.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Jon-It sounds like you can learn a lot from your family members about rotational mechanics.If you like verbal descriptions with pictures included,please check the swing mechanics section of this site.I f you like video ,order Mr. Mankin's video and you will turn your daughter into a better hitter.Although you may find it difficult to find someone that teaches rotational mechanics in your area,the real difficulty is trying to fend off the linear instuctors who will want to change your daughter back to linear mechanics no matter how dominant she is using the rotational method.Good luck!

Jon-
If you are really lucky, you might find someone who can teach your daughter. More likely you won't. Fastpitch softball is full of coaches who believe in some strange mythology that they believe for some reason and talk about with conviction but if you examine what they say, its a bunch of BS:
14 gloves, two piece swings, third basemen playing 15' from the batter, righties batting left handed until they have 2 strikes, slappers running before they swing, etc,etc. Its a world without much sense. Worse, the coach dads LOVE their daughters, its worse than the Little League coach dads who think their kid is the greatest.
Your best bet is to learn everything you can and teach her yourself. Then be prepared for every know-it-all know-nothing coach to try and fix her by teaching her the 'softball' swing.
Its a long and dangerous road. But at least your daughter will be well ahead of the curve if she learns well and may be able to avoid some of the crap.
[sorry, I had to vent]
learn it yourself, you won't be sorry...