During Practice, Bat or No Bat???

[sftbldad]

I manage the Norco Fillys 98 and although I have been a softball coach for a couple of years now this is my first venture into travel ball and I would like the opinions of the fastpitch world. Do you use a bat during practice (for grounders to infielders and such) or do you just throw the ball, why?
I am leaning towards the throw the ball method because it seems to concentrait more on mechanics which you hope will become a reflex in a game, the reason I question this is because the reflexes were not there in out last tournament as our infield was terrible.

Thanks

[Tucson]

I use a bat, most of the time. The players need to see and hear the ball come off the bat. Plus, I can hit the ball harder with a bat.

But, if you are working on a specific skill with a young player, it is OK to do it your way.

That said, even Candelera sits on a bucket and rolls the ball sometimes - to work on specific skills.

[NumeroUno]

We have done drills when we just roll the ball but you have to use a bat so they learn to read the ball coming off the bat. The more you use a bat the more bat control you will have and after about 10,000 ground balls you will be able a hit a ground ball right where you want it.
Good luck

[artomatic]

try using a little tiny t-ball bat. you can swing it with one hand, and you can still get decent grounders.

[3Bsnag]

I say both, especially when you are teaching a skill set to younger ages. My DD is older than your kids, but I still start small (with just a ball) when I see her struggling on a particular day.

Overhead tracking, diving, backhand, catching drills, flips, and feeds are good examples of starting with just a ball. They concentrate on what you are teaching, not worrying about bobbling the ball.

Although for grounders, I would always use a bat.

I think it was Cindy Bristow who was discussing coaches that go out to practice and start pounding the ball at kids. Start easy and work your way up to killing them, every practice.

[SkidMarks]

I think it was Cindy Bristow who was discussing coaches that go out to practice and start pounding the ball at kids. Start easy and work your way up to killing them, every practice.

Guilty. That was a rec ball mistake of mine. Sorry about that black eye, Suzie...

I always like to use the bat...Even when you miss hit it a bit you get some unusual spin that requires an adjustment by the player.

Another thing that it teaches you as a coach or dad, is which bats have more pop and feel. I try to grab a different random bat from one of the girls on the way out of the dugout and it does not take long to learn what is hot and what's not. I was commenting the other day about a Rocketech that I was swinging had real jump. That was after pounding fly balls over the girls heads on successive swings.

SM

[ocdad]

I say both, especially for the age you are coaching. To work on specific mechanical stuff, I feel rolling the ball by hand is better, eliminates bad hops etc & you can be more specific with ball location for whatever you are working, it eliminates everything except for what you want to work on. But for specific position drills, you need to hit off the bat so the girls will be prepared for the game. Need to see the bat off the ball, like everyone else has said.

But what do I know, my girls still make mechanical errors and every other type of error that you can imagine.

[DonnieS]

But what do I know, my girls still make mechanical errors and every other type of error that you can imagine.

Dont feel like the Lone Ranger.

[3'sDad]

with 10's we started last season rolling them tennis balls to get the hang of fielding ground balls and to use proper technique.....we graduated to Incred-balls hit off the bat (they're softer and more forgiving) and as we got close to playing the 1st game, had the girls field regular softballs hit off a bat....worked for us.

[DonnieS]

with 10's we started last season rolling them tennis balls to get the hang of fielding ground balls and to use proper technique.....we graduated to Incred-balls hit off the bat (they're softer and more forgiving) and as we got close to playing the 1st game, had the girls field regular softballs hit off a bat....worked for us.

We did the exact same thing at 10's but the girls complained about the incrediballs - they bounce a lot more than regular softballs and a lot more girls got hit in the face.