Hitting a softball can be one of the most difficult things to do in competitive sports. Those who play recreational slow-pitch softball would have a hard time agreeing with that, but competitive softball played at the high school, college and professional levels features pitchers who can fire the ball at speeds of 70 miles per hour from a distance of 43 to 46 feet. That's the equivalent of a 95-mile-per-hour fastball in baseball. As a result, hitting a softball takes quick reactions, excellent vision, strength and a plan of execution.
Step 1
Stand deep in the batter's box when you come up to the plate. You have to give yourself every chance to hit the ball hard, and by standing deep in the box, you will get an extra split second of reaction time to swing and hit the ball. It will also give you a little more time to decide if the pitch is a strike and whether you should swing at the ball.
Step 2
Hold your bat about 10 to 12 inches from your back shoulder. You want to be prepared to hit the ball when the pitch comes. Bend your knees slightly so that you are in an athletic position, and make sure your hands are loose and relaxed as the pitch comes. That will help you whip the bat through the hitting zone. If you squeeze the bat too tightly, you will be slow with your swing.
Step 3
Move backwards with your shoulders, so your weight is on your back leg as the pitcher winds up. When you swing, you want all your weight and momentum going forward. The way to make sure all your energy is moving forward is to get it all on the back leg before the pitch is delivered. This is called negative movement, and it is a principle employed by good hitters at the elite level of the game.
Step 4
Hit the ball where it is pitched. If you are a right-handed batter and you see a pitch coming in over the outside of the plate, try to hit it to right field. If the pitch is over the middle, try to hit it to centerfield. If the pitch is on the inside portion of the plate, try to pull it to left field. When you try to pull a 70-mile-per-hour fastball over the outside corner, you will most likely hit a weak grounder. If you go with the pitch, you can drive it a long way.
Step 5
Know the situation you are facing when you come up. If it is late in the game and there's a runner on second base with less than two outs, try to hit the ball to the right side of the infield to advance the runner. Fast-pitch softball is often a low-scoring game so being aware of the situation and knowing what your team needs is vital to becoming a good hitter.
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