04/22/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18FQV3DQkf/
Baseball vs. Softball Swing: The Truth
Although I continue to work with several MLB hitters, many of you know that I also made the transition to softball in 2012, going to coach at the University of Oregon. Many people told me that the swing I taught wouldn't translate well into softball.
When I arrived in Eugene, I taught the same exact swing movements and drills I do with my MLB guys. Oregon ended up winning their first-ever Pac-12 title that year, and the hitter I worked with the most (Alexa Peterson) went from "good" to being an All-American and the Pac-12 batting title. People I talked to were still very skeptical.
That wasn't enough proof.
When I got to Cal State East Bay in the Fall of 2013, they had hit 7 HR the previous year, and the same lineup was returning.
We ended up slugging 48 HR and led the conference in HR, SLG%, and RBI.
Once again, I taught the same exact swing movements and drills I do with my MLB guys. But people said, "That's D2; that doesn't really count."
Then I went to Santa Clara University (a mid-major D1). The previous season the Broncos hit .220 as a team. In our one season together, SCU ended with the 2nd highest batting average in school history, the most wins in the last ten seasons, and the highest RPI ranking in school history. When I arrived in Santa Clara, CA, I taught the same exact swing movements and drills I do with my MLB guys. People said, "Small D1 conference, that doesn't mean anything".
Then I was the Head Coach at Menlo College. Taking over a program that had 11 wins the previous season (and only two returning starters) and not a single winning season in the last 14 years.
Can you guess what happened? We led the conference in every single offensive category and broke almost every school record, including finishing in 1st place in the conference. We hit .319 with 49 HR on the year. When I arrived in Atherton, CA, I taught the same exact swing movements and drills I do with my baseball guys. Again I had to hear whispers of "Small college. Prove it on the big stage".
In 2017, I came to the SEC. The University of South Carolina. I implemented the same exact swing plan, movements, and drills I have the last few years in softball and the same as my baseball guys.
We were predicted to finish 12th in the SEC. Last year we hit .227 with 12 HR in the conference. We finished 11th in AVG and 8th in SLG overall. The two most productive hitters in 2017 graduated.
At the end of the SEC regular season, here was our season by the .
- #1 in HR in SEC (65) Broke the school record.
- #1 in HR (conference play) with 24
- #1 in SLG (conference play)
- #1 in Doubles (conference play)
- #1 in Total Bases (conference play)
- #2 in SLG in the SEC
- #2 in Doubles in SEC
- #2 in RBI (conference play)
- #3 in SEC (conference play) in AVG
- School Record for SLG% - .477
- 43 Wins (most since 2002)
- 15 SEC Wins (most since 2002)
- 3rd Place Finish (highest since 2002)
In 2019, I took on the hitting role for softball at Fresno State University. The team had underperformed the previous few seasons but had a solid mix of returners and freshmen. I'm sure you can guess the rest of the story.
When COVID shortened our season, the Bulldogs were 21-4, having just beaten #2 ranked Texas and ranked #12 in the National RPI.
We led the nation in triples, top ten in walks, and Top 40 in scoring, OBP%, and SLG%.
Can we NOW stop saying the baseball swing is different?
(If you follow me/know me, I'm asking that you read this post thru the lens of me trying to shine the light on a long battle/issue I've been fighting about the baseball and softball swing and that I'm not trying to shine the light on me. All of the #'s and success you see above has very little to do with me and everything to do with the outstanding student-athletes I've been blessed to be able to coach over the years. It's their ability, willingness, and commitment that has done all that. Not me.)
