Softball Hitting - Keys to Hitting Success

Softball is a team sport popular especially in the United States. It is being played between 2 teams on a large field.There are 4 bases on the infield (first base, second base, third base,and home plate); the bases are arranged in a square and are typically 45 to 65 feet apart. Near the center of this square is the pitcher's circle, and within the circle is the "rubber", a small flat rectangular area also known as the "pitcher's plate".

The object of the game is to score more runs (points) than the other team by softball hitting (batting) and running around the bases, touching each one in succession. Hitting the ball is a far more difficult thing to teach than almost any other skill. Furthermore, it is the most difficult exercises in sport. You need to consider a couple of important fundamental when you hit the ball. The following are some softball hitting keys to your hitting success.

•    Always keep your head still. The stillness of the head is the most important thing to consider because judging the speed, spin and vector of the ball is an extremely complicated mental activity. It is a forgone conclusion that your body follows your head. Your head moves because of actions of the rest of your body. If you don’t want your head to move the impact of movement of the rest of your body on your head is need to minimize. Keep in mind that head stillness is your absolute goal in softball hitting.

•    The eyes must judge the ball perfectly. Go from soft to hard focus. Before a pitch, watch the whole pitcher and don’t focus on a specific area (soft focus) and as the pitcher prepares to deliver, zero in to the point of release (hard focus) and try to pick up the rotation of the ball.

•    Accomplish a perfect smooth weight shift and movement in the instance. A smooth weight shift from back side to forward side to hit from a firm front side. A hitter must shift weight from back to forward to hit effectively. How smoothly and quickly this is accomplished will determine how hard you hit the ball. Although it isn’t always obvious, good hitters always have some kind of body movement in the stance. They are like a car with the engine idling. This allows them to quickly execute movements and shift weights smoother.

•    Make each swing count. You shouldn’t be swinging just for the sake of swinging. Each swing should have a specific goal whether it is to work on a technical element, drive the ball in a specific location, or adjust to a specific pitch.

•    Popping hips. A hitter must pop her back hip against a firm front side to get the most pop on the ball. Popping the hips is a movement that isn’t just turning (or closing) the pelvis hard, but a movement forward and slightly up and out. This gives the best pop from the body

•     Hold the bat with your fingers. The hands must be in the right position throughout the whole process. You have considerably more strength and control with your fingers rather than your palms.

Softball hitting is complex skill that involves the use of muscle memory so you need to put last things first. You must break it down and practice skills slowly and carefully. It is indeed that it takes a long time to establish good hitting technique but as long as you work on your batting skills nothing is impossible to be the best hitter.