This information below is set in the rotational philosophy, one that I'm not convinced is a cure all for fastpitch softball, however I think it's fantastic for baseball (see hitting the rise ball for the reasons.) I'm sure many will debate what I have to say, but I speak from experience. Scouted professionally (more of a suspect then a prospect) as a college baseball player and an All American as a softball player, I saw some of the best rise ball pitchers in the world at that time, and had to adjust my rotational baseball swing to a hybrid linear/rotational swing in softball... but now I'm speaking in blueprint not crayon..
If you're a parent or a young hitter looking for hitting instruction, look for somone that can break down the information into understandable terms and that offer drills broken down ito each segment of the swing, so that when you go into "toe touch" you can understand what you should be feeling and why..... When you do this you will improve your fastpitch softball hitting.
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This information comes from a softball forum and is very good, yet it was in answer to a question about a very young Rec League hitter. Our point isn't that information is wrong, it's more the focus of the information. If this was a topic of conversation of hitting coaches sitting around enjoying a cold soda, they would all understand the point being made by these steps, however most parents wouldn't be clear on what is being said... When you're working on improving your game be sure you understand what is being taught, if you're unclear it's ok to stop and ask for an explantation..
1. Good athletic set up
2. Separation (when she is at toe touch her hands are back)
At this position make sure she is not sitting on her back leg but has committed weight to the inside front toe...you can start here if you like).
3. When she initiates the swing by dropping the front heel make sure she does not lunge towards the ball but rotates into the ball with no further forward movement once the heel drops. To avoid an arm swing work to keep hands connected to rotation of back hip as he turns the corner (going from being parllel to the pitcher to facing the pitcher and driving into the ball.)
4. As she swings keep hands about letter height and adjust to lower balls with bat tilt and body angle. (Many kids lower their hands and try to make them parrellel to the ball. This first movement makes them super late and disconnected)
5.Extend through the ball with the barrel and then finish around.