Generally, the dreams of becoming a big-league ballplayer stop once you receive your high school diploma. Some folks may dip their toes into college ball, while others might exceed expectations and play at a higher level. Regardless of where the journey ends, the world of slow-pitch softball is always accepting new athletes. Unfortunately, the transition from hitting a baseball to hitting a softball isn’t always seamless. So, you may be asking yourself, “What can I do to improve at slow-pitch softball?”
Hit the Cages
Going from baseball or fast-pitch softball to slow-pitch is like going from an automatic transmission to a stick shift. Recalibrating your swing may take some work because it’s an entirely different game. Finding your timing will take more than a couple of batting practice sessions, considering the ball will be coming in at a snail’s pace.
Your swing’s rhythm, flow, and hand-eye coordination will lead to several groundouts, foul tips, and even whiffs if you step to the plate unprepared. Therefore, buy a bag of balls, get a few friends, and find a cage or diamond to make some cuts. During this session, you can test out several types of bats to find the weight, barrel, and length that will provide you with your ideal magic wand.
Practice Your Defense
If you watch Major League Baseball, the defense might not seem essential in today’s game. Generally, more than 40 percent of the outs in a game are strikeouts, so you don’t often get the chance to appreciate elite fielding. A slow-pitch game requires everyone to flash the leather because, more than likely, every batter will put the ball into play.
You’ll want to be on high alert no matter where you play. Elite players can drive the ball anywhere they desire, so no one can keep their hands behind their backs, counting the park’s lights. A pitcher is probably the most critical position on the diamond due to the game’s flexibility. After tossing the pitch, a player can get into a location and position within the two to three seconds that it takes to reach the batter. Having another active infielder may get you out of a tough jam.
Buy a Bigger Glove
Grabbing that baseball glove you used in high school may be good for playing catch, but you don’t want to field a position. Softballs are nearly double the size of baseballs, so catching those rocket line drives may go straight through your little baseball glove. A bigger glove is worth the investment if slow-pitch softball will be a yearly venture.
“Hit It Where They Ain’t”
Altering your defensive alignment is a strategy that has changed the game forever. Shifting defenders to where a hitter typically hits the ball increases the odds of getting an out. After all, defensive shifts essentially ruined the Major League careers of Adam Dunn, Ryan Howard, and other pull-happy hitters.
The best way to become a better player is to follow “Wee” Willie Keeler’s motto of “hit it where they ain’t.” It’s likely that every baseball fan over the age of 65 says this whenever they see a player like Freddie Freeman ground out to the second baseball in short right field. However, in softball, getting on base to keep the line rolling makes a difference throughout a game.
One of the simplest things you can do to improve at slow-pitch softball is to become a team player. Everyone digs the long ball, and not everyone can have light-tower power. Slapping singles to the opposite field has as much value as a hitter’s raw power. Before the next season starts, imprint these ideas in your mind and make the diamond your playground.
Van Rundell is a writer and author who specializes in transportation, travel, guidance, health & fitness. With over 10 years of experience in the industry as a driver and an entrepreneur, he has seen it all. His tone is professional but friendly with a dash of humor thrown in for good measure. In past, he has been advising, educating and writing about transport for the public and professionals alike.
A qualified fitness instructor with over 5 years’ experience as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Van brings his deep knowledge of health and exercise science to his articles on health & fitness.
