Learning to hit in youth softball can be quite challenging. In the very early stages, coaches will lob a softball to a youngster holding a bat and teach her how to make solid contact. However, the game quickly changes as girls learn how to pitch effectively and hitting becomes more challenging. Starting with your weight on your back leg gives a young player a better chance to hit successfully.
Weight Shift
The key to hitting the ball successfully is to generate bat head speed at impact. In order to get the head of the bat through the hitting zone while you make solid contact, you must shift your weight from your back leg to your front leg as you make contact. As the pitcher begins her windup, make sure the majority of your weight is on the back leg. As you come forward toward the pitcher, shift your weight to your front leg with a small step forward. Since your momentum is shifting, you will be able to drive your hands through the hitting zone to achieve maximum bat speed.
Hit the Ball Where It Is Pitched
Great hitters make adjustments on each pitch. You can teach youngsters to begin doing this by telling them to hit the ball where it's pitched. If a right-handed batter sees a pitch over the outside part of the plate, she should hit it to right field. If the pitch is over the middle of the plate, she should drive it to center field. If the pitch is over the inner portion of the plate, she should pull it to left field. Trying to pull an outside pitch usually results in a soft ground ball to shortstop and an easy out. Good hitters quickly realize you can hit the ball hard and for distance by going with the pitch.
Learn the Strike Zone
Youngsters have to learn the strike zone and have the discipline to apply it when batting. By learning that the strike zone goes from the top of the knees to the arm pits and swinging only at those pitches, hitters will become dangerous at the plate. Pitchers who face batters that lack plate discipline know that getting ahead in the count will allow them to throw pitches out of the strike zone with two strikes. Overaggressive hitters or those who are not as familiar with the strike zone will swing at those pitches and help out the pitcher. Getting a lot of batting practice is the best way to help hitters get familiar with the strike zone.
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