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Resident Experts Column - October 2006
Keys for Teaching the Running Slap - by Cindy Bristow

 

While the running slap is a pretty popular and effective offensive weapon there’s still a lot of mystery around the best way to teach it to your players. What makes the Running Slap so effective is that it puts extra pressure on the defense to throw and catch faster than they’re used to doing. By moving the batter into the left-handed batter’s box (which puts her 3-4 feet closer to 1st base) and by putting her in motion as she hits the ball, the defense must really hurry up in order to get a good slapper out at first. It’s this “hurry up” part that puts the offense in charge.

So, let’s look at a list of Keys for Teaching the Running Slap:

1. Stand In The Middle To Back Of The Batter’s Box – this will allow the batter to take a full step toward the pitcher without being out of the box.

2. Take a Large Step Toward the Pitcher with the Back Foot – this can vary in two ways; one is for the batter to move only the left (back) foot toward the pitcher, and the second method is for the batter to take a small step back with their front foot (right foot). This small step would move parallel with the batter’s box. Let the batter decide which method is more comfortable.

3. Front Shoulder Points Toward the Pitcher – this is key! Too many slappers will turn their chest toward the pitcher (which means their front shoulder is pointing toward 1st base) and this makes it too hard for them to reach the outside pitch. Work hard with your slappers to keep their front shoulder (their right shoulder) facing the pitcher on their step and their swing.

4. Move Your Hands With Your Feet – This is the easiest way I’ve found to teach players to take their hands (and therefore the bat) with them as their feet and body start moving toward the pitcher. There’s a tendency for slappers to leave their hands behind them and as they move their feet forward their hands really separate from their body and get left behind. This makes it almost impossible for them to ever hit the ball. So instead, think of this – whenever you move your back foot toward the pitcher move your hands at the same time. The hands stay above the back foot throughout the running slap – so as the foot moves forward so do the hands!

5. Make Contact With The Ball On A Down Stroke As The Back Step Hits The Ground – It’s only a one-step and hit type of swing. Lots of slappers will actually make contact prior to their back step hitting the ground. Probably the biggest mistake that beginning slappers make is starting their forward motion too soon and then running out of steps while waiting for the ball to get there. Instead, don’t start your slapping motion until the pitchers released the ball.

6. Follow-Through, Eyes on the Ball and Then Run to 1st Base – be sure to finish your swing BEFORE you peel off and run to 1st base! There’s no need to run there if you missed the ball, which you’re likely to do if you take your eyes off it early in order to run to 1st. So, keep first things first by finishing your swing and then running to 1st.

7. Remember that the Defense Can’t Throw You Out if They Can’t Field the Ball – what this means is, instead of trying to hit the ball through the defense, instead try to hit the ball down so it bounces too high for the defense to get it before you’ve reached 1st. In other words, out run the bounce. Swing down on the ball and get it to take a high bounce and then you simply out run the bounce. The defense can’t throw you out if they’re waiting for the ball to come down from the bounce.
When practicing with your players on the Running Slap start by getting them in the batter’s box and putting a glove on their right hand (no bat), and getting them into their batting stance. You can stand about 5-6 feet out in front of them with some balls and as you slowly toss them underhand the batter will work on timing your toss with her cross step toward you. She’s going to work on catching the ball with her glove INFRONT of her not behind her. Remember, the hands move forward as the back foot moves forward so slappers should contact (or catch in this case) the ball in front of their bodies.

Be patient with their progress but know that perfecting the Running Slap isn’t hard, and just takes a few Keys, and a lot of practice and patience!

Best of luck!
Cindy Bristow
www.softballexcellence.com