Hitting the long ball is one of the most difficult tasks in sport. It's difficult enough as is to hit a line drive off a pitcher who is capable of throwing a fastball, curveball, slider or change-up. To put the perfect swing on the ball so that it flies high in the air and carries over the fence takes excellent concentration, quick hands, strength and a knowledge of what type of pitch the opposing pitcher will throw.
Step 1
Take a comfortable stance in the batter's box to hit the ball over the fence. Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Stand with your weight evenly distributed between your front leg and your back leg. Hold the bat over your back shoulder. Grip the bat slightly above the knob at the bottom of the bat.
Step 2
Shift your weight backward as the pitcher goes into the windup. Once the ball is in the air, move forward to meet the ball with all the power you can muster. To get all your weight going forward, you have to get it into the launch position, putting your weight on your back leg. Hitting coaches call this weight shift "negative movement." Making this move will prepare you to come into the ball with an excellent chance to hit the ball hard.
Step 3
Hit the ball to right field if it over the outside half of the plate, hit it to centerfield if it is over the middle of the plate and pull it to left if the pitch is over the inner half of the plate. This advice is for right-handed hitters. Left-handed batters should do the opposite. The best hitters know that if you try to pull every pitch, you will most likely hit ground balls. You can still hit the ball out of the park if you go with the pitch and time it perfectly when you swing.
Step 4
Learn what type of pitches the opposing pitcher likes to throw. College and professional players can check out video of the opposing pitcher to learn his motion and the type of pitches he likes to throw. High school players can talk to the coach and batters who have already hit against the pitcher. Develop a game plan of which pitches to attack and which pitches to lay off.
Step 5
Maintain patience at the plate. Many of the best hitters know that if they are not too anxious they will see the pitch they want at some point in the at bat. Hitters who are afraid of striking out may swing at the first or second pitch in the at bat just so they can reach it and not strike out. Good hitters who can drive the ball over the fence and into the bleachers know they are better off waiting for their pitch and not swinging at the pitcher's pitch.
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