Softball comes in two basic variations: fast-pitch and slow-pitch. Fast-pitch is the more difficult of the two because pitchers fling the ball in at high speed and throw a variety of breaking pitches, whereas soft-pitch requires pitchers to put at least 6 feet of arch underneath every pitch. But when it comes to hitting, the fundamentals remain similar.
Stance
Your stance is the foundation for your swing. Even if you have exceptional bat speed or power, you won't get the most out of your talent if your stance is flawed. You should begin your at-bat slightly bent at the knees, toes pointed toward the first base-side bench. Your bat should rest in your fingertips -- held just tightly enough to keep your grip -- with your front-side hand on the bottom. Align your front shoulder with the pitcher and plant your feet a bit more than shoulder-length apart. Hold the bat near your back shoulder and train your eyes on the pitcher.
Stride
The swinging motion begins when your pick up your front foot and step toward the pitcher. Your stride is the engine of your swing -- it provides the power. But the timing varies depending on whether you're playing slow-pitch or fast-pitch because the reaction time varies substantially. When facing a fast-pitch pitcher, begin to stride forward as the pitcher is releasing the ball. If you're playing slow-pitch, wait until the ball has reached the pinnacle of its height before striding.
Triggering Your Swing
As you stride forward, shift your body weight forward powerfully and begin to bring the bat forward. Start to turn your hips into the pitch while keeping your eyes trained on the ball. At first it might be difficult to begin your swing without knowing where the pitch will be, but after some repetition, it'll come naturally.
Swing and Follow Through
If the pitch doesn't appear to be in the strike zone -- between your shoulders and knees in height, and inside the black edges of the plate -- keep the bat back. If it looks hittable, begin to bring your arms through the hitting zone above the plate, using your front arm for power and your back arm for aim. Turn into your swing and keep it level to avoid popping the ball up harmlessly. Flick your wrists and aim to hit the ball on the fattest part of the bat's barrel, following-through all the way for optimum power.
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