How to Get The Most Out Of Your Softball Swing

In softball, in order to get better, you have to master the complex motion that is required to swing a bat. Working out is not enough. You have to sharpen your hand-eye coordination. You have to learn to move parts of your body separately while keeping your athletic balance, and learn to be fluid, not to over-swing.

Instructions

  1. Getting in the Box

    • 1

      Grip the bat lightly with your strong hand (right hand if you swing right handed) above your lead hand. The bottom of your strong hand should be in contact with your lead hand, and all of your middle knuckles on both hands should line up across the grip. Gripping the bat at the bottom of the handle gives you more leverage.

    • 2

      Step into the batter's box just far enough away from the plate where you can swing and hit a pitch on the outside corner of the strike zone. You may need to take a practice swing to see. If you do not have strike-zone coverage the pitcher will easily get you out, as you'll be incapable of hitting the outside pitch.

    • 3

      Set your feet just a little wider than shoulder width apart. Bend at the knees slightly so you can bounce up and down easily, keeping athletic balance.

    • 4

      Raise the grip on your bat about chest height behind your head. Your hands and your elbows should make a triangle, with your elbows resting about waist height. Do not cock your elbow; it is likely to reduce the athleticism in your swing.

    • 5

      Get an eye on the pitcher and follow the ball. Breathe in and exhale slowly as the ball approaches the plate. Keep a loose grip on the bat to maximize bat speed; your hands will naturally tighten as they swing forward.

    The Swing

    • 6

      Step toward the pitcher to begin generating power from the ground up. Once the front foot lands, stiffen your front leg to give your back leg a force to drive against.

    • 7

      Drive with your back foot while "throwing" your back hip at the pitcher. Your hips and midsection generate the majority of the power in your swing, so the harder and farther you rotate the hips the more power will be generated. This hip torque needs to pull your back foot off the ground, clearing the way for your swing to wrap around your body.

    • 8

      Keep your shoulders square as your lower body begins to torque. As you feel the energy created by your lower body come up through your stomach muscles, use that energy to throw the butt of the bat at the ball. Your bottom hand pulls the butt of the bat while you try to "punch" the ball with your top hand.

    • 9

      Keep your head as stationary as possible while watching the ball hit the barrel of the bat. Your body will always follow your head, wherever it goes. Imagine your head is the top of a triangle where the other two points are your feet, and it keep it there throughout the swing.

    • 10

      Watch the ball hit the barrel of the bat and follow through. Finish with the bat as high off the ground as possible. This means you generated maximum effort with your arms.