Float or chop

Hi Pingskills,

When playing a defensive player, how can you tell whether he has put heavy backspin on the ball or whether he has floated the ball? Both actions look very similar.

Hi Simon,

A few things will help.  Probably the most important thing is to watch the contact.  The bat will go through more vertical on contact for the float and more horizontal for the heavy spin ball.

In flight the ball will hold up a bit more when it has heavy spin on it and the float will come through faster.  On the bounce the spin ball will skid through more and the float ball sit up.  It really is a matter of seeing it enough to get the feel for the differences.  There are differences but without having watched it several hundred times it will all look the same.

Try to find a defender to train with a little more and you will improve your recognition.