Hitting the ball in slow-pitch softball does not have the same degree of difficulty as hitting in fast pitch softball. Instead of facing a pitcher who is trying to throw a fastball by you or throw drops and curves, you are facing a pitcher who is trying to make you uncomfortable when you swing the bat. The pitcher is not trying to strike you out, but instead wants you to hit the ball so the fielders can make easy plays. Your goal is to drive the ball with speed and power. This takes a quick and level swing.
Step 1
Grip the bat firmly, but don't choke it. You want the bat to remain firmly in your hands when you make contact. If your grip is loose, the bat will slide in your hands when you make contact with the ball. Grip the bat tight enough to keep it from sliding around, but not so tightly that you lose circulation in your finger tips. Grip the bat about 1 inch from the knob at the bottom. Having the proper grip will put you in a position to hit the ball with a level swing.
Step 2
Shift your weight to your rear leg when you stand in the batter's box. As you swing the bat, you want your weight to come forward. The best way of doing this is making sure your weight is on your back leg before you swing. This is called loading your swing, and also is referred to as negative movement. Putting your weight and momentum on your back leg will allow you to hit the ball with a level swing.
Step 3
Assess where the pitch will cross home plate. If you are a right-handed batter and the pitch is on the outer portion of the plate, you will want to hit the ball to right field. If the pitch is over the middle, you will want to hit the ball to center field. Pull an inside pitch to left field. If you try to pull an outside pitch, you will have a difficult time hitting the ball with a level swing, and you will likely pop the ball up or hit a ground ball.
Step 4
Focus your vision on the center of the ball. You want to hit the ball with your arms extended fully and to make contact with the center of the ball. This requires you to keep your eye on the ball throughout the hitting process. Don't take your eye off of the ball after contact. Continue to finish your swing by bringing it through the ball on an even plane. This will help keep your swing level.
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