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The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by King on January 26, 2025, 12:05 pm

I will be in Rosemont in 2 weeks watching closely to see if the successful 16-18u slappers translates to college.
Slapping works well in HS and travel especially when the batters box rules are not enforced.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by @king on January 26, 2025, 6:56 pm, in reply to "The Death of Slappers in College?"

Have we all calmed down? If you have watched P4 softball closely, you know there is far less slapping at the highest level than 5 years ago. I would say slapping has not seen a similar decline at mid majors and down from there...but I'm guessing Rosemont will give you some insight into that question.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV on January 26, 2025, 2:32 pm, in reply to "The Death of Slappers in College?"

So you’re scouting 15 year olds to revel in their upcoming collegiate death?

Disgusting, dude.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Death on January 26, 2025, 3:43 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

Your dramatic!!
Seriously consider therapy

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Fred The Informer on January 26, 2025, 3:08 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

You are unaware that college season begins in 2 weeks because you are uninformed. Subsequently you are also uniformed there are a bunch of College games at the Rosemont dome in 2 weeks. Finally, your inability to stay current leads you to make a foolish post about scouting 15u players.
Show your family your post and this thread and ask them if you should feel ashamed.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Right, said Fred on January 26, 2025, 4:46 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

I thought we were all in the trust tree? 🤣

All good, brother. I also read the OP as saying he was going to watch 16Us. I think Magnum was joking

I doubt that making conclusions from watching whatever D9 vocational tech is starting their season in Rosemont is the way to understand college softball.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by John Ashcroft on January 26, 2025, 1:53 pm, in reply to "The Death of Slappers in College?"

What’s in Rosemont in 2 weeks - a Time Machine? 🤣

It would be interesting to find data on your question, but in the absence I’d guess that slapping in college is more a function of trends than any foundational changes to the game. (It’s still a 60 ft game, and girls are faster than ever.)

For example, I’d also guess that we’re on the other side of the rise ball being the best out pitch in college. It might be drop ball or change up next, and then rise will come back around as hitters adjust.

I guess you could argue that analytics have foundationaly changed baseball (pursuit of launch angle) and basketball (reliance on the three point shot), but I can’t think of an equivalency in softball. Maybe I’m wrong.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Semi Agree on January 26, 2025, 6:43 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

I agree, slappers who don't have the ability to hard slap (drive the ball) or swing away are losing interest at the next level.

But the slappers who can hard slap and swing away to drive the ball, as well as their short game, are still generating strong interest.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by @semi agree on January 26, 2025, 8:05 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

This is so true! They need to be able to swing away.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by @king on January 26, 2025, 5:09 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

My daughter is a D1 slapper. She is a starter on her team and there is always one or two slappers in the lineup on every team they face.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Decline on January 27, 2025, 12:53 am, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

My daughter is a D1 P4 slapper. There has definitely been a decline in slappers in college. I would say they number one reason is the change in the, "out of the box", rule. Before slappers just needed to have any part of their foot touching the line in the box even if most of the foot was out. Now the entire foot needs to be on or inside the line. I have no idea why NCAA changed that rule, I hate seeing such a dynamic part of the game being taken away. People will say,"learn better fundamentals", but the problem is in travel and high school it's still being played with the old rules, this causes problems with the freshman when they move up, especially when the opposing team gets tape on the player and sees her tendencies. Coaches will tell the ump before the game to watch said player and then proceed to pitch outside to draw the player out.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Viewpoint on January 28, 2025, 2:24 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

That's like saying fast girls are in less demand at the collegiate level because the college coaches can ask for video review of the runners leaving early.

Fix the issue.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Lake Central on January 27, 2025, 7:57 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

BTW nobody in Illinois cares about Lake Central

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by gtq on January 27, 2025, 10:33 am, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

The college foot rule definitely hastened the decline of slapping. Historically some of your better slappers are not tall people, making it that much more difficult for them to make contact on outside pitches without stepping over the line. To me that is the more unfortunate part about the rule change is it disproportionately affects shorter slappers.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Well on January 27, 2025, 11:40 am, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

If a 5-4 to 5-7 slapper can't reach a strike on the outside corner, there's a technique issue.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Agree on January 27, 2025, 3:39 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

Coach, if your slappers can't reach the outside corner, there's a fundamental issue with their line or mechanics.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Coach on January 27, 2025, 8:41 am, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

To be clear, the line is part of the box. If your foot is on the line, your good, but any part of our foot OVER the line, your out of the box.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Also on January 27, 2025, 9:32 am, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

There are too many girls turned into slappers who have no business being slappers. If you're 2.9,3.0 to 1B, you should not be slapping.

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Lisa on February 7, 2025, 8:26 am, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

Watching college softball yesterday and noticed hitters (not slappers) have feet on the line at contact. How is this acceptable, yet slappers can’t have their feet on any part of the line? Should this be called? Most hitters brag I saw start with one foot out of the box and then step on line at contact?

Re: The Death of Slappers in College?

Posted by Coach on February 7, 2025, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Re: The Death of Slappers in College?"

Your wrong, the line is PART of the box. Foot has to be beyond the line to be out of the box.

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