Softball 2016 Preview: Outfielders

[Turbine]

My daughter attended NC State's week long softball camp last year. Coach Rychcik is a long time friend of Coach Lotief's. We told him that Riley was probably going to attend UL's camp next year and he went on to tell me how great of a family the Lotief's are. He also said that he hates Coach Lotief's hitting style and would never coach it, but thinks he is the greatest hitting coach there is. He said although I disagree with the style (mostly because I can not coach it) no one on the planet coaches the split grip technique like Coach Lotief does. He actually said he could take my girls in one season and make them some of the most dangerous hitters in the country.

It was interesting to hear him talk about how he would never coach the split grip, but he thinks that Michael Lotief is amazing at it.

Mind blowing praise in terms of coach speak.

[Cajun90]

I always laugh at the split-grip discussions (and would guess Mike would as well) at it's not what he teaches at all. We have had few "hitters" who have used the split grip in the last 8-10 years but we have had a lot of slappers who have done so. Vanessa Soto, yep. Holly Tankersley, nope. Pretty sure Lexi Elkins, Aleah Craighton, and Kelsey Vincent don't.

I think each hitter is coached differently depending on their strengths and weaknesses. I think some have changed grips from the first time they get here to when they graduate. From watching, it appears what he does teach is using the core rotation to develop power which is similar to a golfer's swing (clear the hips with the arms trailing). JMO

Agreed. There seems to be this notion from others in the softball world that Mike is a "split-grip" coach.

In my opinion the truth is that he is good at taking each individual hitter and playing to their strengths. Sometimes that is a split-grip but not always. There is certainly a reason others can't teach his technique. It's because they don't understand he doesn't have "a technique".

[CajunAmos]

Agreed. There seems to be this notion from others in the softball world that Mike is a "split-grip" coach.

In my opinion the truth is that he is good at taking each individual hitter and playing to their strengths. Sometimes that is a split-grip but not always. There is certainly a reason others can't teach his technique. It's because they don't understand he doesn't have "a technique".

What is common to all the hitters is watch their practice swing routine in the on deck circle or when they are in between pitches. They all clear the rear hip with the hands making a dropping/chopping motion with the bat head. Where the hands are on the bat varies.