Softball Batting Techniques

Softball swings are unique unto themselves. While you may find similarities from one to the next, there are also nuances that distinguish one from another. But no matter what approach is applied at the plate, there are still a number of principles that are necessary for the success of any swing.

  1. Be Comfortable

    • In order to achieve hitting success, the first order of business is establishing a level of comfort in your batting stance. Find a stance that feels relaxed yet provides the confidence necessary to produce. Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart. If that suits you, you're all set. If not, gradually move the feet farther apart to explore a better fit for your swing. Settle on a stance that supplies good balance, a solid base with which to generate power and, perhaps most important, peace of mind.

    The Hands

    • You can watch 10 different hitters step into the batter's box and see 10 different hand placements. Again, comfort is invaluable in terms of hitting. Try to keep your hands just above the strike zone; thus, any pitch that comes in above them will most likely be called a ball, and any pitch within the strike zone should be easier to handle as you swing through the hitting zone. Hitters should grip the bat firmly but not too tightly. Loose hands enable a hitter to manage the swing more effectively and exhibit better bat control.

    The Base

    • One of the biggest misconceptions is that hitting is a science that relies primarily on arms and hands. While they do play a significant role, so, too, does the action a hitter generates from the waist down. The origin of swing can be traced to a hitter's trunk or "core." As a hitter anticipates an approaching pitch, weight is shifted to the back side, or "loaded." This is the power source, which is revealed on the swing. As the hitter prepares to swing, the load is transferred forward, starting with the clockwise turn of the back foot, more commonly referred to as "squishing the bug." That action triggers the hips to turn, or "clear," and rotates the belly button toward the pitcher. In turn, the hands are thrown through the strike zone, simultaneously getting the bat to the ball.

    Finishing the Swing

    • A swing does not end on initial contact. Much of the drive comes from the follow-through that ends with the bat finishing its path behind the hitter.

    Repetition

    • Once you have discovered a batting style that best suits you, all that's left is to hone it; that can only be achieved through practice. Hitting off live pitching, a machine or a batting tee provides an opportunity to grow familiar with your swing and get to a point at which you can make certain adjustments. Plus, it will build faith in the swing, something that serves all hitters well when they step into a batter's box at game time.