switch hitting in softball???????

[crashdavis]

Due to the release point of the pitcher there is no need to switch hit in softball. In baseball it gives an advantage on the release point and movement of pitches to be a switch hitter. DD hit both rt and lt up until she was 12 (natuaral righty) and has hit on the left side since. Reasons being her ability to be a multiple threat, a more compact swing from the left side and the fact that her left eye is her dominant eye. She is not a pure slapper, but does have above avg speed.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

Due to the release point of the pitcher there is no need to switch hit in softball. In baseball it gives an advantage on the release point and movement of pitches to be a switch hitter. DD hit both rt and lt up until she was 12 (natural righty) and has hit on the left side since. Reasons being her ability to be a multiple threat, a more compact swing from the left side and the fact that her left eye is her dominant eye. She is not a pure slapper, but does have above avg speed.

A batter's success has less to do with the release point and more to do with their comfort level at the plate.

[DirtyRaceGirl]

IMO, if a kid is going to flip to the leftside, they need to fully flip and be working with an experienced hitting instructor with proven results flipping kids. They need to learn to swing away and slap from the leftside. One thing I see happen all the time that I personally don't like is the kids who are flipped only because they are fast and then they are only taught to slap.

I've also found with younger kids, alot of them pick up flipping very easy and become better hitters in a short period of time because they didn't have any bad habits from the left side.

If a kid is a .400+ hitter from the rightside or already in 16U, I wouldn't reccomend flipping them. If they are 14U or younger and either A) are fast or B) have a weak swing from the right side; I would reccomend flipping them.

I have to say I agree as well. My daughter was a quick righty all the way up through 12U and just for fun, they had her hit from the left to see if she could make contact, and she did well. She switch hit for about a year, and as the pitching got better, it became harder to switch back and forth. She got to where she wasn't really strong on either side, and her coach finally said "pick a side and stay with it." Due to her speed, she stayed to the left and became an accomplished slapper and bunter. Once we hit 16U she had to start working much harder at power hitting, because in our experience, schools prefer left sided power hitters rather short game players. She doesn't slap as much as she used to, but still does on some occasions. At hitting practice, she does rotations in both slapping and hitting away.

[pinoypride1977]

thanks alot on all the different opinions. my dd is currently 14 now and hasn't played from the left side since her first drag bunt at the age of 12, but has been practicing and is a decent contact hitter in the cage. i know the pitching in 14u is way better so i'm letting her stay right handed where she hits close to 380 but for power and is real comfortable. she rarely strikeouts and usually always makes good contact. but in the cage messing around at 50-60 mph she does look good from the left but the power is nowhere close to right handed. so all the advice i can get i appreciate just wondering if i should let her do it in a live game and/or am i gonna mess with her swing by letting her continue messing around from the left side

[Battle]

thanks alot on all the different opinions. my dd is currently 14 now and hasn't played from the left side since her first drag bunt at the age of 12, but has been practicing and is a decent contact hitter in the cage. i know the pitching in 14u is way better so i'm letting her stay right handed where she hits close to 380 but for power and is real comfortable. she rarely strikeouts and usually always makes good contact. but in the cage messing around at 50-60 mph she does look good from the left but the power is nowhere close to right handed. so all the advice i can get i appreciate just wondering if i should let her do it in a live game and/or am i gonna mess with her swing by letting her continue messing around from the left side

If she is already 14, I would find her an instructor that has a proven record of teaching left side techniques and do it pretty quick. You still have a little time to let her use it against live pitching and make her decide what side she wants to be on. Otherwise you'll wind up with “ a jack of all trades and master of none”. I've really never heard of it called “switch hitting” in softball although if you bat on the right and left that is ultimately what it is, I guess, if you are using baseball terminology.
Anyway, good luck to you and her and never let her lose sight of the having fun part.

[2bucketdad]

There is no reason for them to hit from the right. Righthanded or lefthanded, power or speed, start them out as young as possible on the left and leave them there.

[Battle]

There is no reason for them to hit from the right. Righthanded or lefthanded, power or speed, start them out as young as possible on the left and leave them there.

I agree that if possible try to start batting on the left but the OP's DD is already a 14yr old right handed hitter and may want to switch to the left. What to do?

[GIMNEPIWO]

There is no reason for them to hit from the right. Righthanded or lefthanded, power or speed, start them out as young as possible on the left and leave them there.

And if they don't like it, call them names, flush their pet turtle and send them to bed without their dinner

[mrekrek]

Yes, I have noticed the lack of switchhitters in SB. But what if the girl (16) has 2.8 speed (first movement, plate to bag) yet displays fence clearing power from the right side (1 HR/20 PA in travel ball last year) but not yet from the left side (decent slaps and bunts from left, can swing away but produces more line drives rather than HR type hits and is incosistent swinging away from the left at this time). Keep switching based upon the game situation?

[absdad]

In my dd's case (your mileage may vary)... natural righty, taking slapping lessons for a few months. Started showing some promise, and her slapping coach said it was commit time. Moved her over, and never looked back. Her avg took a tank for a few months, and she was frustrated for a while. They will come around, but it takes time. I think you have to do it all or nothing, and work at it. She's now better than she ever was on the right, but has more of an arsenal. Be sure your coach is aware of what you're trying to accomplish.