How to Slap Hit in Softball (5 Keys to Beat Out Hits)
Slap hitting is how a fast, left-side hitter turns speed into base hits. Instead of a traditional stance, you move through the batter's box toward the pitcher as you swing, so you are already running when the ball comes off the bat. Done right, a slapper puts the ball on the ground into the gaps, beats out infield hits, and forces the defense to rush. The keys are timing your footwork to the pitch, keeping your hands back, and making contact out front. Here is how to build the slap step by step.
What is the footwork for a softball slap?
The slap starts from the left side of the plate, because that side is a step and a half closer to first base. Most slappers use a crossover move: as the pitcher releases, you step back with your left foot, cross your right foot over toward the pitcher, and plant to swing while your momentum is already carrying you up the line. The timing is everything. Start too early and you drift off the plate, start too late and you are lunging.
Keep your head still and your eyes on the ball even though your body is moving. The footwork gives you the running head start, but your upper body still has to control the barrel. A good slapper looks smooth, not frantic, because the feet and the hands are working on the same clock.
Start slow when you are learning. Many young slappers rush the crossover and end up bailing toward first before they make contact, which pulls the barrel off the ball. Groove the footwork at half speed until the plant feels balanced, then build up to full speed. Speed is useless if you cannot square up the ball first.
What are the different types of slaps?
A complete slapper has more than one tool. Which one you use depends on where the defense plays you and how hard you need to hit it. Learn them in this order.
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Soft slap | A controlled push or drag that rolls into open grass | A deep-playing infield or a drawn-in corner |
| Hard slap | A full, downward swing that drives the ball on a line | An infield creeping in to take away the soft slap |
| Fake slap and hit | Show the slap, then pull back and take a normal swing | Freezing the corners and opening up power |
The soft slap and the hard slap feed each other. Once the defense moves in to stop the soft slap, the hard slap and the fake open up, and a slapper who can do all three becomes very hard to defend.
What training builds bat speed and hand control for slapping?
The hard slap still needs a quick, strong swing to drive the ball past the infield, and even the soft slap needs steady hands to control the barrel on the move. Training with weighted batting gloves builds the hand speed and forearm strength that give you a quicker, more controlled swing. Take a few swings with them on, then take them off, and the bat feels light and fast, which is exactly what a slapper wants through the zone.
Homer Handz Weighted Batting Gloves
Weighted batting gloves build the hand speed and strength that give a slapper a quicker, more controlled swing through the zone.
Which drills teach you to slap hit?
Build the slap in pieces. Groove the footwork with no ball first, then add contact, then add a live pitch and a clock.
Slap hitting questions players ask
Who should learn to slap hit?
Fast players, especially those at the top of the order, get the most out of slapping. If your speed is a weapon, slapping lets you use it on almost every at-bat instead of only when you reach base.
Do you have to be left-handed to slap?
No. Slapping is done from the left side of the plate, but plenty of right-handed throwers learn to bat and slap lefty specifically to get closer to first base and use their speed.
What is the difference between a soft slap and a hard slap?
A soft slap is a controlled push or drag meant to roll into open grass against a deep infield. A hard slap is a full downward swing that drives a line drive when the defense creeps in.
Why do I keep popping up or fouling off my slaps?
Usually your swing is too long or your contact point is too deep. Keep your hands back, swing slightly down through the ball, and make contact out front so the ball stays on the ground.
Do weighted batting gloves help slap hitting?
Yes. They build hand speed and forearm strength, which give you a quicker and more controlled barrel. That helps both the hard slap and the steady hands a soft slap needs.
Turn your speed into base hits
Build a quicker, more controlled swing and make the defense pay for playing you deep.
Tags: Softball, Slap Hitting, Fastpitch, Hitting Drills, Bat Speed, Weighted Gloves
