Ask almost anyone in sports, and they'll tell you: hitting a softball with a fastpitch bat is no easy feat. With only 43 feet separating the pitcher’s rubber from home plate, hitters need quick reactions to have any chance of success. To bolster your odds, we have called upon the expertise of former players, current coaches, and a team of softball enthusiasts to compile a list of the top hitting tips for beginner fastpitch softball players.
Hitting Tips For Fastpitch Softball
Before we dive into swing mechanics, it’s important to note that nailing down a steady, balanced hitting stance can set you up for success in the long run and put you in the best position to react quickly to the speed of the ball. Remember, hitting is hard for everyone. The following tips will help you build confidence in your swing and allow you to be the best player you can be. Let's get started!
Key Takeaways
- Fastpitch hitting requires both strong mental preparation and a controlled, athletic approach that matches the speed of the game.
- A proper load acts as a timing mechanism, helping hitters stay balanced while creating a small coil in the back hip.
- Separation between the upper and lower body during the stride builds stretch, which helps generate natural bat speed without rushing the swing.
- Efficient swings follow a clear sequence of hips leading first, followed by the hands, and then the barrel working through the zone.
- Consistent contact comes from staying balanced, keeping the head steady, and staying inside the ball through extension.
Use the on-deck circle to prepare your mind
Control your breathing and slow the game down. Focus on what your goal will be during your at-bat, whether that’s advancing a runner, seeing a few pitches, or just driving the ball hard. Deep, controlled breathing also helps you sync with the pitcher’s tempo so your load begins smoothly as they start their motion. Take this time in the on-deck circle to set yourself up for success.
Split the plate in half and focus on a zone
Some like the ball in, some like it away, some like it low, some like it high. Early in the count, determine a “GO” area in the zone. If the pitch is in this area, you will take a full swing to drive the ball. Swinging at your pitches early in the count will improve your power and lead to more extra-base hits and home runs.
Learn from your failure
Everyone strikes out. It’s just part of the game. Don’t hang your head or beat yourself up over it. Instead, refuse to accept it. Learn from it. What was the pitch sequence that struck you out? Keep those pitches in mind for your next at-bat. Lay off the pitches outside of the zone, and attack the pitches in the zone.
Step into the box with complete confidence
Learning how to hit a softball can feel daunting. Tell yourself that you are going to succeed. Win the at-bat before you ever step into the box. Self-confidence is a powerful thing; take the time to harness it. Confidence will manifest as increased physical strength and a firmer athletic stance, keeping your body balanced and steady. The more you believe in yourself, the better you will perform at the dish.
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Key Softball Hitting Tips & Drills
AJ Andrews teamed up with JustBats to provide softball hitters with the tips and drills to improve hitting. We hope you enjoy the following video as AJ breaks down the best softball tee drills. She also explains why each exercise is important and what parents and coaches should look for during batting practice.
Avoid holding the bat in your palms
We encourage all players to find a grip that is comfortable to swing. However, we do recommend keeping the grip of your bat in your fingers to free up the movement of your swing and increase your power potential. This finger-based grip helps keep the barrel loose through the hitting zone, allowing the hitter to adjust more easily and maintain control during contact with the ball. When the bat is buried too deep in your grip, your wrists lock up, and you lose power.
Keep your hands high
When preparing your stance in the box, keep your hands around the same height as your back shoulder. From this position, the hands should still load slightly back during the swing to help keep separation from the lower half of the body. Keeping your hands high will allow you to attack down at the ball and avoid a long, loopy swing that generally results in a pop-up or a whiff.
Relax your shoulders
Hitters will often stand rigid at the plate. Tension in the body causes harm to the swing, such as disrupting the proper sequencing of swinging steps and causing the hands to begin the swing too early. The main culprits for this tension? Shoulders. Relax your shoulders, and you’ll relax your body.
Load your hands and legs
Focus on the synchronization in your swing. As you load your legs, make sure you are loading your hands as well. It can be helpful to make a small coil in your back hip, and the load should act as a timing mechanism that will match the pitcher’s motion so that the hitter is ready to go as the stride begins. Load your legs and hands together to allow your swing to work simultaneously. Doing so will also make it easier for your eyes to tell your body when and where to swing.
How to Slap in Softball
A unique element to fastpitch softball is slap hitting. With only 60 feet separating home plate and first base, softball hitters learn to chop at the ball as they run down the line. This hitting strategy is known as slap hitting.
Fastpitch softball slappers are typically left-handed hitters who have high hand-eye coordination and are fleet of foot. The goal is not to drive the ball over an outfielder’s head but instead to hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield and beat out the throw. Slap hitters cause worlds of havoc for opposing defenses. If you are interested in slap hitting, we partnered with AJ Andrews to publish a professional guide on slap hitting. The following is an excerpt from the post:
When you’re starting to learn how to slap hit, the main thing you want to focus on is being and feeling athletic. So when you start in your stance, you want to make sure your knees are bent, your body is balanced, and you are light on your feet.
The first step is to perform your crossover. Oftentimes, you’ll see girls when they go to slap, slide, and then go. When you do that, your momentum is already leaning forward. And as a slapper, as you get older, you’re going to face better pitching. Pitchers who can change the speeds on their pitches. Pitchers who can locate better. And if your momentum is always falling forward, then you won’t be able to adjust to those pitches quickly enough. So think about, instead of sliding, just performing a very simple and subtle crossover with your back foot.
Find Your Perfect Fastpitch Softball Bat
If you are interested in developing your softball swing or learning more about fastpitch softball bats, be sure to check out our Buying Guide.
And if you have any specific softball bat related questions, our Bat Experts are available via phone at 866-321-2287, email at support@justbats.com, or you can click here to live chat. Don’t forget; we’ll be here for you from click to hit!
