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Slap Hitting
Also known as: slapping
Slap hitting is a left-handed technique where a fast runner moves through the box toward the pitcher while making contact, getting a running start toward first base.
The slapper times footwork so the body is already moving toward first as the bat meets the ball, shaving crucial time on close plays and pressuring infield defenses to field and throw quickly. Variations include the soft slap, hard slap, and fake-slap-to-power. It is a specialized skill that turns speed into offense and is unique to fast-pitch.
Example
A left-handed slapper crosses through the box and chops a ball into the hole, beating the throw by a step.
Related terms
- Short GameThe short game is fast-pitch’s collection of low-power, high-pressure offensive tactics — bunts, slaps, and push bunts — used to move runners and beat defenses with speed.
- Reaction WindowThe reaction window is the fraction of a second a fast-pitch hitter has to read, decide, and swing. The short pitching distance makes it one of the tightest in all of sport.
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