Does the running "Slap" hitting yield good results?

Watching the college games with the really good pitchers, it just "seems" that the slap hitting technique (when the lefthanders get that running start in the batter's box) very often does not yield a batted ball.
Sometimes it does, but not very often it seems.

 

When they hit them down and create the high bounces they're pretty successful. There also seems to be quite a few that are slapped to the outfield.

I think slapping is much more successful than trying to bunt for a hit. Bunting for a hit seems to fail about 95% of the attempts. Sacrifice bunting makes sense, though.

 

Kelly Grieve...

go to Tennessee's box score from last night against the number 2 seed in the tournament and perhaps the best pitcher in the tournament...Grieve had two slap hits (one to right center and one to left field) that drove in 3 of their 5 runs...if it's done right and with the right amount of speed, slapping works and is a very powerful tool.

 

You may be correct but . . .

I watched the game and am not sure Kelly actually slapped both times. Yes, I know she's usually a slapper, but I think in the RBI situation she may have not have slapped. I'm not sure.

As for whether the 'running slap' is a good idea it clearly depends on the skill of the hitter. Many HS kids simply aren't being taught the correct technique or really aren't fast enough. The accomplished slapper is a real weapon in the college game, especially on the concrete hard fields that some schools prepare for them.

 

You are correct she did not slap hit last night.
Michigan had brought in sand and loose dirt to be put on the infield to slow the slapping/speed game down.
They must have not realized she hits away as well as she slaps.
It came back to bite them with the error at 3rd.
Slapping and the speed game is a very dangerous tool to use if it is used and taught correctly. IMHO



GO LADY VOLS.

 

jmo.......its my experience to lead me to beleive that a true lefthanded batter has an advantage period. If she can lay down a drag bunt or slap in the right situations thats great, but the clincher is when the defense has to respect the leftie with legit pop in their bat.

If you have a runners on 1B and 2B, that situation does not have a favorable set up for a speedy one dimensional slapper. But given that same scenario and now the leftie can slap, bunt, has speed and power.....hello!

Slappers put stress on defenses, or atleast for the most part they've had that advantage for a few years now, but to me, I see a decline in how succesful the art of slapping has become.

LeftiFish

 

nice adjustment indeed

definitely proud down here Pop!!

 

OK

still I am seeing many slap batters fan at the pitches and strikeout. not all, but I would say most do not connect.

from a pitcher's standpoint, what kind of pitch and what location is best to deter the slappers?

 

,

...I think you're helping make my point, half ass slapping attempts with no more value than to put the ball in play is ok in limited roles. Take a lefthanded hitter who can draw in the 3B and 1B or better yet coax the defense into bringing in the 2B, side by side with the pitcher and drop the 1B back, and then hit with power.......sweet, meal money folks. A decent lefthanded contact hitter will take that defense apart.

As for a reply directly related to what pitches are the best to throw to slappers, ...well thats for others to comment on.

Nice thread

Fishdad

 

Are you just new to the game or did you legitimately make that statement? In the D1 game (minus freaks like YEE) usually the highest batting averages are slappers. You may not think of them as slappers cause they also swing away or bunt. See if any of these ring a bell..... Natasha Watley, Caitlin Lowe, Berg, Lauren Lappin, Ashley Charters, Chelsea Bramlett, Vicky Galindo and even in college Mendoza was known to run through from time to time. That makes 7 out of the 17 on the current national team that can slap but if those people are too aged to prove that slapping works look at Tenn first 3 batters all hitting well over .300 and all slappers first and hitters second. Speed kills my friend and 9 times out of 10 it will beat you...

As for whoever posted about the amount of people who slap without really having the proper technique or speed I would have to agree with you. It seems like everyone and their mom watches someone slap on tv and poof they know how to teach it. Its all about timing and its not something you can watch someone do and understand. Its something that has to be taught by a n experienced coach or another slapper. And in order to be an effective running slapper you have to be able to run under a 3.0 down the line because infielders can usually bobble the ball and still recover and throw you out if you are slower than 3.0. A sneaky bunt is the most difficult thing to teach them because they are moving forward and have to deaden the ball at the same time. But a good sneaky from a slapper puts them on all day every day. On a different not as far as switching natural right handed kids to the left side.... as backwards as it sounds they usually end up becoming more consistent. Not only is it a taught swing but they can see the ball a lot better since their dominate eye (right eye for right handed players) is more in control on that side of the plate and lets face it 80% of the pitches we see are outside. If you know with 80% confidence that its gonna be outside and you can see it better, well your prolly gonna put the ball in play. Would I switch a kid who hits bombs on the right side? No. Would I switch a kid who you know physically will never be strong enough to hit bombs? In a heartbeat. Would I talk to a kid who wears glasses or contacts about switching at an early age? You better believe it!

And to answer the where to pitch slappers question... There really is no right pitch to throw you just have to watch them and use common sense. If they are sprinting out of the box throw change just as you would to an anxious right handed batter. If they stay closed throw in. If they show you their chest on their cross over which most do then keep away. But just as righties have "their pitch" so do slappers and no two hitters are the same. Its up to the battery to solve the puzzle. Good pitching staff is more likely to own slappers and prolly the other hitters on the opposing team cause they are good at picking holes in swings.