Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Fri Dec 6 05:43:48 2002

> I don't know how those few girls with good rotational mechanics do it considering the pitcher is in their lap. A good case for slap hitting for some without the strength to perform what's discussed here.
> >
> > That's the issue. Everybody advocates the "rotational style" of hitting for fastpitch softball AND I agree, that gives the female athlete the best chance at success. BUT besides debating theory (ie. linear or rotational), there needs to be a practical discussion and some sound advice on HOW TO help these girls succeed. So my question has been - - how much bat speed does a female hitter need in order to hit a 66 mph from 43 feet away over the fence (200 feet)?
> >
> > No answer yet. Then I would ask, if you are teaching the mechanics right (and that is a big IF in our sport), how do you get that athlete's bat speed to where it needs to be? AND practically speaking, assume you are working with marginal female athletes (nowhere near Bonds, Griffey, Sosa) and they are facing day in and day out quality pitchers throwing 65 mph from 43 feet away - - HOW do they take their "rotational mechanics" and sub par bat speed and find a way to beat that pitcher.
> >
> > Tom Guerry talked about Veronica Nelson of Cal - - about 6' tall and about 250 lbs, very strong) hitting Jennie Finch of Arizona in the College World Series using rotational mechanics. Most 18 and under girls do not have that size and strength. What does the 140 lb., 5'6" avg. girl do against Finch - - bunt or dink and hope the third baseman misses the ball. That's give up to me, but what is the alternative - - rotate like hell, with the bat going 52 mph, she has to start swinging before the ball leaves the pitcher's hand and IF she is lucky enough to hit it, you got a single and you have to pray the next batter lucks out and hits it or the catcher throws it into the outfield on a steal attempt.
> >
> > Any guidance or advice - - I know the theory discussed here is sound but I am looking for practical options for the average female athlete. Anybody?
>
> All, regardless of size should use rotational mechanics, IMO. It is THE way to not only generate the best batspeeds but it is the way to generate the best bat quickness. They, males or females, have to learn that the swing is a body movement with connected arms. It is not an arm movement supported by the body. Once you understand how the rotation starts and where it starts, catching up to fast pitching is not a big issue. It is a ground up movement. It is started by the big muscles of the legs and torso, not the smaller muscles of the arms and hands
> >
> > Jack? Tom?

ullco3b-
Lots of assumptions in your post:
- "140 lb., 5'6" avg. girl"? larger than average IMO and experience
- "marginal female athletes .. facing day in and day out quality pitchers throwing 65 mph from 43 feet away"? My daughter (HS senior) plays fps, HS and summer travel teams, will play D3 next year. Few pitcers above 55 mph. The best athletes play on the best teams and there are 60+ mph pitchers. But the marginal athletes don't play on those teams. Olympic and best college D1 pitchers 65-70+ mph in my experience. I've watched the Womens College World Series and they have radar guns there.
You are pitting the best pitchers against the worst hitters in your question. Not a fair comparison.
- "what is the alternative - - rotate like hell, with the bat going 52 mph, she has to start swinging before the ball leaves the pitcher's hand" ? good rotation will NOT produce 52 mph swings. My daughter is 5'1", 115 lbs and has 70-75 mph batspeed. It is not size, it is technique. Rotation produces faster batspeed.
Show me a good rotational swing on a 5'6" 140lb, 18 yr old girl with 52 mph batspeed ??? and, without even looking at a video, either its not really a good rotational swing or we're dealing with a very much less than marginal athlete.

If you want 52 mph batspeed, push the knob of the bat to the pitcher with both hands, snap the wrists into contact, and hit your front shoulder with the barrel on the followthrough. Also make sure you swing down to hit grounders to the infielders standing 30' away ready to throw you out. That's what most softball coaches teach.
The point here is that a good rotational swing will create batspeed and bat quickness that is better able to deal with the fps pitchers who throw hard from very close.