Posted by: () on Fri Jan 4 17:01:05 2002

> 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:

Mostly that's true, but...I find if I start asking baseball coaches what the various cues they use really mean, they mostly don't have a clue what really happens in a swing either. Or they start describing a linear swing. So then you post a clip and ask them how this compares to what they are describing and suddenly they lose interest in the thread. My point is, ignorance runs rampant in both sports concerning swing mechanics. Occassionally, I will run into someone in fastpitch who can describe good linear mechanics. OK, once I ran into such a person. :) If they can accurately explain their swing mechanics and they are convinced that linear is for them, I can respect that. The ones that aren't even aware there is more than one mechanic, much less what happens in said mechanics, those are the ones that irritate me as they preach linear cues to all hitters regardless of their current swing mechanics. I will say, I have seen linear mechanics used effectively in fastpitch. As long as you are not trying to pull or hit for power, you can get on base effectively with linear mechanics. I just wouldn't want a lineup full of them.






> 14 gloves, two piece swings, third basemen playing 15' from the batter,

Actually, unless they are facing a lefty slapper that they know can't hit away from that side they generally play about 40-45 feet from the batter. With the short basepaths this is necessary. If your corners play back near the base, a good fast bunter in fastpitch will bat about .800 against you.





righties batting left handed until they have 2 strikes,

That IS goofy. Leaves me shaking my head as well.




slappers running before they swing, etc,etc.

If you ever watch a really proficient left side slapper who can hit for some pop from that side as well as play the short game you will see a work of art. If the defense plays back she will beat you with a drag or soft slap. If the infield comes up she will punch it into the short grass. If everyone comes up she will hit it over the outfielders heads. The key is the 60' basepath. If a running slapper is getting to 1st in less than 3 seconds after contact, you better be on that ball now and you better not bobble or she is safe. It makes for an interesting and varied offense. Too many girls though, only have one trick from the left side and if that doesn't work they are either done or they go to the right side with 2 strikes. If you are going to move a female speedster to the left side, she has to commit to learning to hit for some pop over there as well as play a varied short game. Believe me, I'm a rotational hit for power kind of guy, but I have definitely seen female running slappers who were very difficult to get out. For that matter, the same tactics are used in men's fastpitch. The key is the short bases.







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.

Having been deeply involved in both games, I would say that daddy ball is rampant in both sports.





> Your best bet is to learn everything you can and teach her yourself.

There are not many rotational believers in the world of fastpitch instructors but there are a few and the word is slowly getting out. I have seen a noticeable change in thinking just in the last two years. But you still need to know everything you can yourself for your kid's sake.





Then be prepared for every know-it-all know-nothing coach to try and fix her by teaching her the 'softball' swing.

And they will have your best interests at heart. lol As to baseball though, just try getting on any board beside this one, Mike's, or setpro and ask for swing advice. My experience is that you will get mostly, or all, linear advice. Often they even want you to swing down at the ball. I do agree though that the situation is worse in fastpitch. On the other hand, I do see more progress in educating coaches over there than I do in baseball. They just have farther to go.





> 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.

You and your daughter must be knowledgeable enough, at least, to defend her against the drills, advice and ideas of the linear enthusiast and or the clueless enthusiast.

Mark H.