Anyone who's ever watched a few minutes of a rec-league softball game has probably seen a big guy taking flailing hacks at the ball, swinging with all of his might, but popping it up for an easy out. Being a good hitter in softball isn't all about size or strength: Proper stance and mechanics separate the real hitters from the beer league hackers.
Feet
Your feet should be pointed toward home plate when you begin your stance. Some hitters prefer a slightly open stance, which means your front foot is a bit farther away from the plate -- and sometimes pointed more toward the pitcher -- but this can leave you susceptible to the outside pitch. If you have a closed stance, with your back foot farther off the plate, you may be able to reach more outside pitches, but it'll be more difficult to get around on inside ones. This is a matter of personal preference, but most players keep their feet pointed at the plate and positioned parallel to one another.
Hands
Your front hand, or the hand on the arm closer to the pitcher, should always be at the top of your grip. The back hand should be directly beneath it, so that your top-hand pinky and bottom-hand index fingers are touching. Your thumbs, meantime, should be wrapped around the handle of the bat. Your palms should be facing one another; a corkscrew grip will sap power from your swing. A proper stance also includes gripping the bat tightly enough that you won't let go of it when swinging, but no tighter than that. Treat it like an egg.
Arms and Shoulders
Both elbows should be bent, at angles of about 45 degrees, and held chest-high. Your front shoulder should be pointing at the pitcher as the pitch is thrown, and sitting even -- or a slight bit higher -- than the back one. Your front elbow will also sit a bit higher than your back elbow, allowing the front arm to provide power and the back one to give your swing aim.
Head
Keep your head upright and your eyes directed at the pitcher, both pre-pitch and during your swing. When betters drop their heads or take their eyes off the ball, the result is often a meekly hit ground ball or lazy pop-up.
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