Posted by: Mark H. () on Tue Sep 3 16:47:17 2002

I was wonder what yourthoughts were on the agrument that a softball swing and baseball swing are different. I have heard many differetn approached to this and would like to hear your opinion!
> >
> > Curious,
> >
> > The difference non-existent. I think that softball people want to "think" that softball is different because they don't want baseball people to be experts in "their game."
> >
> > You will find that in softball there are many silly notions that people believe with out any factual bases. A few are: crush the bug, elbow up, stop the hands and whip the bat, the rise ball. Softball people believe this stuff and you can't change their mind. Especially the one about the rise ball.
> >
> > F. J.
> >
> > Frank is absolutely right, the best softball hitters have swings like the best hitters in baseball (exculding slappers which is a whole differt thing). Let's just say a great swing is just that no matter which sport you play.


Here's a clip (Shawn's I believe) of probably the pre-eminent female fastpitch player in the world alongside baseball hitters. It really depends on your gifts and goals, but if a fastpitch player wants to hit for power and average, this is it. If she is a left side speed burner interested only in obp there are some other options, but someone has to drive in the runs. Doubles change everything.

http://members.aol.com/bellshw2/clip0036.mov

Mark H.