Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Feb 1 19:59:40 2009

Hi All

I often get e-mails and calls from fastpitch coaches asking if the rotational principles taught at Batspeed.com and in our instructional dvds would work for girl's softball. Their main concern is that the baseball swing we teach is to long and not quick enough for their sport. They are also worried if the baseball swing plane may not work for rise-balls and the lower release found in fastpitch.

To ease their concerns, I pointed out that girls who exhibit rotational principles (CHP & Torque) are actually quicker to the ball than those fastpitch hitters using linear swings. I also pointed out that video analysis of batters in the MLB World Series showed they used the same mechanics and swing plane for "submarine pitchers" as for the high release pitchers. The submarine pitchers release point was only 8 to 9 inches above the ground. That is about 18 inches lower than the release point of most fastpitch pitchers.

Here is a side-by-side comparison clip of a couple fastpitch hitters exhibiting rotational mechanics in the WCWS.

Balko and Mesa in the WCWS

This is a side-by-side of a good fastpitch and baseball hitter.

Balco and Dustin side-by-side

Jack Mankin