There is no shortage of softball hitting drills and these drills can all be easily found. Using hitting drills will allow a player to increase her skills with the bat but at the same time, certain batting drills work on key skills of hitting more. Not only that but some drills require a player to put in more effort and as a result of these two elements a player will become a better hitter.



Here are some of those better softball batting drills for players to use:

Drill 1 - Command T Drill

Purpose: To practice using the same stride while adjusting to different contact spots.

Procedure: Put one T at the spot where the player makes contact with an inside pitch (front inside corner) and put the other T at the contact spot for an outside pitch (back outside corner). As the hitter plants the front foot, her partner says "In" or "Out." The batter hits the ball that was called for by the partner.

Drill 2 - Underload Swings

Purpose: To have the batter develop quick hands and quick-twitch fibers by having her train at a faster speed.

Procedure: Hit Wiffle balls off a soft toss using an underload bat. At the time that the runners improve speed by running down hills, hitters should use the underload theory to increase swing speed by using a lighter bat or a hitting stick that lets them make faster swings. A hitting stick can be made from a broomstick. Foam pipe insulation is taped on the upper half to make the barrel. The hitting stick should be used to hit only the Wiffle balls. Using a shorter bat and making the lever shorter also improves quickness.

Drill 3 - Opposite-Field Hitting

Purpose: This drill is used to give the hitter a chance to learn to wait for the ball and hit the outside pitch to the opposite field.

Procedure: Set up an L-shaped screen on the right side of the pitching mound as seen by the right-handed hitter, and on the left side if the hitter is left-handed. Make the players get into two separate groups: left-handed and right-handed hitters. Throw batting practice from either the left or right side of the pitching mound. Shaggers take all positions on the field. The hitter looks for a pitch away and hits the ball back in the direction it came from.

Drill 4 - Game-Like Batting Practice

Purpose: To focus on the proper techniques and execution.

Procedure: The feeder at the pitching machine gives an offensive signal to the batter, and the hitter has to execute the play like it were a game situation The feeder uses all the plays, like the hit-and-run, bunts, and squeezes. This drill can be done in a batting cage or on a field with or without fielders. Base runners are used when fielders are present.

Drill 5 - Tracking and Recognition, or Take the Pitch

Purpose: To develop great tracking skills and to recognize strikes.

Procedure: A pitcher is on the mound with a catcher behind the plate. The pitcher throws pitches and the hitter stands in the batter's box. The batter has to take her normal stride and track the ball while being able to recognize spin on the ball, like drop, rise, or change-up spin. The batter does not swing at the pitch but calls out the type of pitch that was thrown.