Pitch a Fit’s Dec 99 article
suggested that LHH slappers (left handed hitters) made great
Christmas gifts for some coaches. Just like the wrong color
tie, oversized shirt, or even the broken hand tool, gifts
bearing LHH slappers can find themselves on the return list,
especially if it doesn't size up to the coaches expectations.
Some coaches have learned that LHH offensive strategies may
not work as well as they have envisioned. After all, it looks
easy, slapping the ball in the gap, or poking the ball just
over the infielders head.
Anything is easy when you visualize its success. It is also
easy to get caught up with what appears to be a simple
offensive strategy. The first step towards successful LHH
slapping strategies, is to understand that LHH slapping isn’t
easy.
Some of the most common mistakes associated when using LHH
strategies are: not reading the defense correctly, stepping
towards second base, leaving before the ball is pitched, and
having the bat too far behind the batter prior to slapping.
And most of all, overestimating the hitters ability. Although
there are many more common mistakes related to LHH, these seem
to be the most common.
When deciding to use a LHH slapper in a game, coaches should
first decide if the defense is vulnerable to the slap. Instead
of filling the gap with another defensive player, some teams
have great speed at short and second, are able to charge the
ball, Teams that
have braking ball and deadly location pitchers, can make LHH
slappers less successful.
Reading the defense is a key step in the decision making
process.
LHH slappers that tend to step toward second base during the
slap make themselves vulnerable to the outside corner. A huge
hole can open up on the outside if the slapper fails to step
toward the pitcher. It is hard enough to slap a ball to the
correct location, but may be even harder if you can only use
the very end of your bat.
A very common mistake for LHH slappers is leaving too soon.
Some coaches instruct their players to leave when the ball is
over the head, behind, or at release point of the pitcher.
Leaving before the ball is actually released sets the batter
up for a major fall. A
successful change-up pitcher can neutralize a LHH that leaves
too soon by bring on the change up. Instead of executing a
successful slap, the LHH slapper can find herself trying to
not step out of the front of the box.
“Keep your eye on the ball” is a common phrase you hear
coaches make during any game. Keeping your eye on the ball as
it hits your bat is a basic foundation skill for any batter.
Teaching a LHH slapper to keep the bat behind her while she is
slapping puts the eyes in front of the bat, instead of behind
it. A successful slapper will start with the bat behind her,
but will quickly place it in front of her prior to the hit of
the ball. Trying to slap a ball with the bat behind you (with
a helmet on) is a lot to ask a young athlete to
do.
How successful a team is using LHH slapping is directly
related to how well you understand your own batters. Although
it is easy to think everyone can slap, the fact is, not
everyone can. When you are deciding if you want her to slap,
you may need to first
make sure your are not overestimating her ability. How much
practice has she received during the week? (Article July 99)
How successful was she? Was she able to slap the gap? Can she
read a defense? All these contingencies are part of the
decision making
process for a coach that wishes to use LHH strategies.
LHH slapping skills can play a vital part in some games.
Learning when, how, and most important, which batter can do
it, is the key to a successful slap. That wrong color tie can
be worn with the correct suit. That oversized shirt can be
tailored, and that broken hand tool probably need batteries.
The LHH slapping present just needs a little
fine tuning. If anything has to go back to the store this
holiday season, it my be that fruitcake.
