Chop Slap
Also known as: high chop, chop slap hitting, chop hit slap
A chop slap is a slap swung down through the top of the ball so it hits the dirt near home plate and bounces high. By the time the ball comes down, a fast slapper is close to first base. Coaches use the name loosely, and some teach a level slap instead of chopping down.
The chop is a slapper's tool against a defense playing in. The slapper runs her normal approach. She then brings the barrel down on the top half of the ball out in front of the plate. A good chop hits the ground hard just in front of the plate and climbs high into the air. Infielders have to wait for it to come down. That wait gives a fast runner the time she needs.
Not every coach teaches it. Some want slappers to keep the bat level, with a short, firm stroke and the hands inside the ball. They see a downward chop as a cause of weak rollers and pop-ups. Slap names also vary. Some coaches call any soft slap a chop, and others keep the word for this high-bounce shot. Ask what your coach means before you practice it.
A chop that does not bounce high enough is an easy out. Hard, dry dirt in front of the plate helps the bounce, and soft or wet dirt kills it. The chop also needs contact out in front before the crossover foot lands outside the box. A foot planted outside the box at contact makes it an illegally batted ball.
Tips by skill level
Practice chops off a front-toss on a hard surface. Aim for a bounce that climbs higher than your head.
Save the chop for counts and defenses where the corners are in. Pair it with the soft slap and the power slap so the infield cannot sit on one option.
Example
With the corners playing in on a dry, hard infield, a fast left-handed slapper chops down on a low pitch. The ball bounces off the dirt in front of the plate and climbs high over the pitcher. She crosses first base before the shortstop can make a throw.
Why it matters
The chop gives a fast slapper a hit when the infield plays in for the bunt and soft slap. It is one more option that keeps the defense guessing.
Common mistakes
- Chopping too softly so the ball bounces low and slow to a fielder
- Using the chop on soft or wet dirt that kills the bounce
- Letting the crossover foot land outside the box before contact
Frequently asked questions
What is a chop slap in softball?
A chop slap is a slap swung down through the top of the ball. It hits the dirt near home plate and bounces high. That gives a fast slapper time to reach first base.
Should slappers chop down on the ball?
Coaches disagree. Some teach a deliberate high chop as one option. Others want a level, short stroke and see chopping as a cause of weak rollers and pop-ups.
Related terms
- Slap HittingSlap hitting is a left-handed offensive technique where a fast runner moves through the batter's box toward the pitcher while making contact, converting their running start into a head-start toward first base.
- Soft SlapA soft slap is a short, controlled slap that places a slow ground ball where the infield cannot make a quick play. The slapper runs through her crossover, keeps her hands inside the ball and meets it out in front with a short, firm stroke. Most slappers aim it at the left side of the infield, where the throw to first is longest.
- Power SlapA power slap is a slapper's full swing taken with a running start through the batter's box. It drives hard grounders and line drives past a drawn-in infield.
- Crossover Slap StepIn a crossover slap step, the back foot crosses in front of the front foot. It starts the slapper moving toward the pitcher, building momentum into contact.
- Illegally Batted BallAn illegally batted ball is a hit made while a foot is on the ground completely outside the batter's box, or touching home plate. It counts whether the ball goes fair or foul. The ball is dead and the batter is out. For slappers, a foot touching the box line or still in the air is legal.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question about this, or keep reading the related terms above.