Slap hitting is a specific type of hitting that softball hitters will be asked to perform sometimes. It’s best done by a left-handed batter and it’s usually done against a dominant pitcher (just to try to put the ball in play and get a hit) or it can be done to try to advance base runners. Also, since the process of slap hitting sets the batter in motion as she hits the ball, faster runners can often use this type of hitting to get on base.
Slap hitting is something that has to be done correctly and it also has to be practiced in order to be done correctly. As the name “slap hitting” suggests, what the batter is going to do is slap the ball.
The batter’s goal is to slap the ball to the spot where it’ll be farthest from the lead runner. So, if the goal is to advance a runner from second to third then the ball should be slapped down the first base line (that’s the farthest distance from third base). However, if there’s no one on base and the batter is hoping to reach first base then she should slap the ball to the right of the shortstop. If the batter can get the ball to bounce twice before reaching the shortstop and the batter has some speed, she should be able to beat the throw to first just about every time.
To slap hit the ball, the batter must stay in the same position as the pitcher goes into her wind-up. However, the batter should cross her front foot over her back foot. The batter should put a full-swing on the ball but stop the bat at the point of contact. This will create the slapping of the ball. The batter should try to either hit the ball on the ground or on a line drive.
Just before making contact with the ball, the batter should begin to move forward in the batter’s box. (The batter must make sure she stays in the batter’s box until she hits the ball.) Then as she makes contact with the ball, her hands should stop but the rest of her body should continue to move forward. That way the hitter can slap the ball and already be moving toward first so that she has a great chance to beat the throw.
Slap hitting is a great way to advance runners who are on base or to get a fast batter onto base. If a hitter practices slap hitting and gets good at it, slap hitting can become a great weapon that will work very well throughout the season for both the player and for her entire team.