Improving your game skills in softball requires some properly aligned fundamentals, persistent practice, and the right positive attitude. Some of the most efficient and successful tips to up your softball skills have been combined in this list of 10 ways to get better at softball.
10 Ways To Get Better At Softball
10 Ways To Get Better At Softball
1. Get The Full Knowledge Of The Game
In order to grow your skills in softball, it is crucially essential to learn all the basic rules of the game. Softball is a game of mental toughness and repetition hence regular practice is needed which calls the urge for full knowledge and understanding of the game’s rules and regulation.
2. Improve Your Pitching Skills
Proper control of the pitch needs training and regular practice. For efficient pitching, the arms should not swing that much and ensure you keep an eye on the accuracy, not the speed. The finger ends should be used to snap the ball when throwing to ensure a good speed is set for the ball and a further distance covered.
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3. Batting Skills
A firm grip on the bat ensures that even when you hit close to the fingers or at the far end, the bat won’t sting. Keeping an eye on the hips of the pitcher ensures a good timing posture and you must be ready to hit the ball once released, this is the release point of the pitcher.
A firm grip needs pressure from the fingers and not the palms, the bottom and the top hands should be placed against each other with the middle knuckles being in a straight line. The wrist should be flexible to allow rotation to certain angles, a short bat with less power called choke grip ensures a better control of the bat. This is done by moving the hands some inches to the top of the knob.
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4. Swinging Skills
A hard swing followed through until you have hit the ball is recommended. To ensure a hard swing the shoulders and hands stay back as the hips and legs swing. The hips should remain parallel and fixed at a certain angle to the ground during rotation. The position of the front shoulder is very important and should not be far from the ball to avoid poor eye contact of the ball and the back shoulder from dropping down leading to a poor approach to the ball.
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5. The Hand Position
The hands should be some distance, 3-4 inches from the chest, the shoulders should be tension free and the elbow held down. To keep loose and comfortable you can try the power alley or power position, this is done by a little back and forth movements with the shoulders and hands.
6. Player Posture
The stance of the player determines her accuracy in the game. The feet of the batter should be parallel to the home plate direction pointing them apart around the shoulder-width. The batter should keep her knees bent slightly and the weight equally distributed on her feet. The hands and the shoulders should be moved simultaneously five to seven inches from the body and the eyes focusing on the coming pitch.
7. Learn How To Stride
These are the important skills the hitter should have when making some moves to hit the released ball. This includes moving the front foot about six to eight inches in order to establish a strong momentum required to hit the ball. Cocking of the hips and slight movements of the hands while keeping the hips parallel and the back shoulder a bit raised than the front shoulder improves the stride.
After a successful stride turn the top hand slightly such that it is a bit close to the pitcher as compared to the bottom hand. The hands are then in a ready position to hit the ball and as the ball is released the weight of the hitter is on the rear foot. Flexed knees are ready and strong enough to start the swinging process.
8. Contact Spot Techniques
For an inside pitch, the elbow of the batter should be next to the body so as to get out the hands quickly and allow the hips to open faster. Contact spot for an outside pitch is in between the body and hips hence the batter should wait for the ball. The hips should stay in contact while the back hip goes through. Proper hip rotation ensures that the hitter gets the ball hard enough. Understanding where and how to make good contact at different pitches ensures proper hitting of the ball at each specified location.
9. Comfort Level During The Game
How comfortable you are when playing the game determines the confidence level of the player. This will dictate whether the player will use all the skills she possesses or not. Keeping the hair in a ponytail manner such that it is off the neck ensures you are comfortable when playing.
One mistake should not be a source of stress, rather a checkpoint to improve on the game. Taking a deep breath before and at the course of the game fixes the tension fever and keeps you relaxed.
10. Follow Instructions
Always be in good terms with the coach and the other players. Be ready to be corrected and from there you can learn from your mistakes and be in a position to improve your game. Be reliable and persistent for the training and practice session since these will boost the skills and expertise.
Conclusion
- Having a positive attitude towards the game increases the urge to learn more skills from the game and soon you will gain experience.
- You should also learn to take great care of your gloves and ensure they remain in a good shape throughout. Whenever in the field always be keen and focus on the ball and be quick to remove the front foot after catching the ball when you are the first base player to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
- Regularly rub some petroleum jelly to your gloves to make them softer and hence making them more likely for the ball to stay in there, it also ensures the gloves doesn’t shrink or flatten as this affects the accuracy during the game.
- Never rush for the ball when batting to avoid missing it and always keep the knocking knuckles well lined when gripping on the bat. This helps to provide a stronger grip hence more power.
