Expert Advice

Hitting a Softball

  • Start with a comfortable stance. Balance your weight on the balls of your feet. Keep your knees slightly flexed, with a slight bend at the waist.
  • Hold the bat with your front elbow down and relaxed, and your back elbow at a 45-degree angle, pointed at the ground.
  • Grasp the bat at a 45- to 90-degree angle with the middle knuckles of one hand aligned with the middle knuckles of the other hand.
  • Keep your hands at the top of the strike zone, and near your back armpit. Make sure the bat is between the catcher and your back shoulder.
  • Keep your head straight, with your eyes focused on the pitcher at the release point of the ball (the side of the pitcher's leg, for example).
  • Shift the weight onto your back foot as the pitcher goes into the windup.
  • Take a stride forward with the front foot on the release of the pitch, being careful not to bring any weight forward on the stride. This is called a soft step.
  • Start to pivot the back foot so that your back heel is facing the catcher, and transfer your weight forward to the middle of your body.
  • Launch your hands last, with the knob of the bat going toward the pitcher's feet.
  • Be careful not to drop the barrel of the bat below your hands at the start of the swing.
  • Hit the ball and drive it, following through with your hands swinging to the opposite shoulder.