Slow pitch softball is a high-scoring game that features a lot of long hits and big innings. The game is dominated by bigger, stronger hitters who use an uppercut swing to launch long home runs. However, there are many excellent hitters in slow pitch softball who depend on technique rather than size or strength to become game-changing players.
Back of the Batter's Box
Much like fast-pitch softball and baseball, you want to start in the back of the box when beginning an at-bat. But instead of trying to have an extra split-second to react to the ball, you want to start in the back so you can take a shuffle step to attack the softball. This will allow you to get maximum power on your long drives and also help you hit line drives that get to the gaps between the outfielders. The shuffle step gets all your momentum moving forward as you make contact with the ball.
Hit the Ball Where It's Pitched
No matter whether you are a power-hitting slugger, a line drive hitter or a slap hitter, you are much better off hitting the ball where it's pitched than trying to pull everything. Power hitters know that a right-handed hitter can hit a ball over the outside part of the plate to right field just as far as they can when they pull an inside pitch. A great power hitter can drive an outside pitch to right field or a pitch over the middle to center field. If he tries to pull that outside pitch he may find success on occasion but it will also result in a lot of ground balls to shortstop and third base.
Assess the Game Situation
Even power hitters need to be cognizant of the game situation and the way the defense is positioned. If the tying run is on second base with two outs in the last inning, the idea of hitting a game-winning home run may be appealing, but hitting a line-drive base hit to tie the score is the right way to play the game. If the defense is playing the hitter to pull the ball to left field, the hitter needs to look at the open spaces on right field side of the field and drive the ball in that direction.
Member Comments