How to Put Together a Slow-Pitch Softball Batting Order

For both men's, women's and coed slow-pitch softball teams, the objective from an offensive standpoint is to score as many runs as possible, and more than the opposing team. You can help to achieve this by arranging your team's batting order to get the most runners on base, increase your chances to advance the runners and then allow these runners to score. To create the most effective order, study the hitting strengths and habits of each individual player. Unlike baseball, slow-pitch softball often uses 10 players (and batters) instead of nine.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make a list of each player's name on the team, Rate each player's batting habits and strengths, and his base-running speed. Write, for example, whether the player is a consistent power hitter, a consistent contact hitter or a weak hitter. Use pen and paper.

    • 2

      Place a highly consistent batter -- who is usually also a fast runner -- in the first, lead-off spot. Place another good hitter, who constantly puts the ball in play to advance the lead-off hitter, in the second spot.

    • 3

      Spread your power hitters out, placing them in the third, fifth and seventh spots.

    • 4

      Place lead-off hitters, who have a high on-base percentage, in the fourth and sixth spots so that the power hitters will likely have base runners to drive in.

    • 5

      Put the weakest hitters in the eighth and tenth spots. Make sure the tenth hitter is not so slow a runner that she slows down the lead-off hitter (should she get on base and the lead-off hitter follows her).

    • 6

      Put a batter who is good, but not quite as consistent as the hitters earlier in the lineup, in the ninth spot, so that the last three hitters are not all weak hitters.