Hit the Ball Properly in Softball

This article will help you improve your swing or teach you how to swing. Also, for the more advanced players, there will be some fundamentals that can be the difference between a single and a home-run.

Steps

  1. Get into "The Ready Position":
  2. Stand with your legs shoulder width apart.
  3. To ensure that you can reach outside pitches, touch the end of your bat to the outside corner of the plate. If you can't touch the edge of the plate farthest away from you, adjust yourself so you can.
  4. Make sure that you have a slight bend in your knees. Stiff legs require you to tighten your muscles, which will reduce the power of your swing.
  5. Pick up your bat. Your "knocking knuckles" (your middle knuckles that bend the middle of your fingers) should line-up. This means that your left hand's knocking knuckles should be in line with your right hand's knocking knuckles. This position will help you snap through your swing, which will add power to your swing.
  6. Rest your bat on your back shoulder. This is called the "rest" position. You will hold this position until the pitcher starts his/her pitch during a real game.
  7. Lift your bat off of straight up, off of your shoulder. If you have completed this step correct, then you should be able to stick your back hand's thumb out and touch your ear.
  8. Angle your bat towards the umpire. This will ensure that your swing will ONLY GO FORWARD. This is a positive swing. Unlike in baseball, you do not want to pull your bat back for power. That is a negative swing. The pitcher in softball is closer than a baseball pitcher, so negative motion will only work in baseball.
  9. When the ball is in front of you, bring the knob of the bat (the end of the bat where the bat's grip is) towards the ball. This is the whole concept of positive motion.
  10. Extend your hands towards the ball. When you make contact with the ball, roll your wrists overs and extend your wrists out toward the outfield.
  11. After you snap your wrists, pivot your back foot and point it towards the pitcher. Turn your hips toward the pitcher.
  12. The last part of the swing is the follow through. Do not stop putting your strength into your swing when you contact the ball. This is a common mistake, and it will reduce the power of your swing. Pull your back arm and tuck it underneath your shoulder.
  13. Run the bases after every hit, whether you expect a fielder to catch the ball or not, make the effort to reach base.



Things You'll Need

  • A softball bat that is the correct length for your size. (The knob of the bat should not go more than 2 or 3 inches past your wrist when the far end of the bat is perpendicular with the ground.)

Related Articles

  • Play Third Base in Softball
  • Pitch in Slow Pitch Softball
  • Play First Base in Fast Pitch Softball
  • Catch Fly Balls in Softball
  • Swing Correctly in Softball

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