A new rule was implemented in college softball this year in regard to slap hitting.
It used to be that a batter only needed part of their foot inside the box when they made contact with the ball.
The new rule states that if any part of of a batter's foot crosses the chalk before they makes contact with the ball, they're automatically out.
Former Lady Vol softball player and current volunteer assistant with the team, India Chiles, has mastered the skill and shared what the purpose of slapping is as opposed to swinging away.
"It's isolated to the faster players," said Chiles. "We call them speed performers in softball. What we want to do is utilize the ground, hit a routine ground ball forcing the defense to charge. When that ball goes to the left side the runner has the advantage to make it to first base safely."
Chiles says it's impacted players this year but it mostly impacts the home plate umpire.
"Their first priority is supposed ot be balls and strikes and so what we've seen this year is their missing some calls on the plate because their priority is with the slap hitter's feet and they also have pressure to make that call."
As far as any future impact on the sport, Chiles says it will change the way kids are taught to slap hit, but they don't want to over emphasis the change.
"With the younger kids that will be moving in to college softball, they should never be training to step on that chalk line in the first place. "With these being our kids with the highest on base percentage on the team, we certainly don't want isolate their flaws in mechanics too much and heighten their awareness to where their performance falls off. "