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How do I stop my slow pitch softball from popping up?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 18, 2026

Stand Strong. Stand with your feet at about shoulder width and avoid “tensing up.” Relax and avoid extraneous swings in preparation for the pitch. Keep your back and legs in line so you don't lean forward and backward. Stand with your feet 6 to 12 inches away from the side of the plate.

Why do I keep popping the ball up?

However, most of the time that balls get popped up, it is because the bat is not moving up enough through the hitting zone. Even though most coaches advise against upper-cutting, moving the bat on a more upward path through the hitting zone usually leads to more line drives and far fewer weak pop-ups.

How do you practice a slow pitch softball swing?

Two-ball Drill

The coach tosses two softballs up in the air at the same time. The hitter must pick out the higher ball and drive that one while letting the low pitch go. This helps the hitter to have recognition at the plate and it will make for a more consistent batting swing.

How do you increase bat speed in slow pitch softball?

Increase Speed with Batter's Box Form

Pinching inside the thumb without the index finger results in slow bat movement. Keep your wrists loose and your bottom hand at the approximate top of the strike zone. Keep your shoulders relaxed, squared or with the front shoulder slightly dropped.

Is Slow pitch softball easy?

Slow Pitch softball is a fast-paced game that requires strength and patience. Although the pitcher throws the ball underhand at a slow speed, the ball is easier to hit. The ball used in slow pitch softball is smaller and denser than it is in fast pitch, making slow pitch softball a much more high hitting game.

27 related questions found

How do you increase your hitting power in softball?

5 Tips to Get More Power Behind Your Softball Swing

  1. Use The Right Grip. When you grip the bat, you need to focus on applying your pressure with your fingers- not your palms. ...
  2. Mind The Elbows. Many softball players mistakenly keep their elbows up when swinging. ...
  3. Power Your Stance. ...
  4. Dominate Your Stride. ...
  5. Improve Your Contact.

How far can you hit a 16 inch softball?

Any softball rules not covered or found in this section will be covered or found in Part I of the current edition of the official NSA Rulebook. The official 16 inch diamond base lines will be sixty (60) feet. The pitching distance will be thirty-eight (38) feet. All batters start with 0-0 count ● No Extra foul balls!

Why do I keep popping up in slow pitch softball?

Popping up while swinging at a large ball that moves slowly may be caused by several issues. Your swing may be making contact with the wrong part of the ball, meaning you aren't “squaring up” on the ball correctly. Your timing may be off and you're swinging too early or too late.

What is a pop-up in softball?

Definition. Pop-up rate represents the percentage of balls hit into the field of play that are characterized as pop-ups. Each ball that is hit into the field of play is characterized as a line drive, a fly ball, a ground ball or a pop-up. (A fly ball is a fly to the outfield, while a pop-up is hit to the infield.)

Why am I swinging under the ball?

When the hitter's head moves more than four inches past the center of their feet, towards their front foot, they create a downward swing plane, often resulting in swinging under the ball. Practice Hitting Drills to Fix Lunging (click the link for our free drills article).

How do I stop hitting the ground balls?

DRILLS AND TIPS FOR FIXING A GROUND BALL SWING

Stay relaxed with your grip, swing tension reduces bat speed. Turn your back leg using your core, more specifically your hip joint, while keeping your hands back. Whip the bat to the ball using your core. Control your barrel at contact.

Who invented softball?

Softball began in 1887 when George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, invented "indoor baseball". By the spring of 1888, the game had spread outdoors. It was originally called either mushball, kittenball or indoor baseball, but by the 1920s it had acquired the name of softball.

What is Chicago softball?

16-inch softball (sometimes called clincher, mushball, cabbageball, puffball, blooperball, smushball and Chicago ball) is a variant of softball, but using a larger ball that gradually becomes softer the more the ball is hit, and played with no gloves or mitts on the fielders.

Is bunting allowed in softball?

No Bunting: Bunting is prohibited. S7. No Stealing: Base stealing and leading off are prohibited. The base runner must remain on base until the ball is hit.

What's the easiest position in softball?

What is the easiest position in softball? Right field, because young players don't hit the ball very far in the air, and because 80% of athletes are right handed, fewer hard-hit fly balls will go to the opposite field (right field for a right-handed hitter).

What is the hardest position to play in softball?

The hardest position to play in softball is the shortstop. Usually, the shortstop is the most athletic player on the field and must have various skills such as explosive agility, arm strength & range, glove skills & hand-eye coordination, and an excellent understanding of what is happening on the field.

Is there a catcher in slow pitch softball?

In softball, catcher is one of the easiest positions to play – or one of the most difficult. That depends on whether the game is slow pitch or fast pitch. In slow-pitch softball, the catcher's job mostly involves throwing the ball back to the pitcher and making the occasional play at the plate.

Does choking up increase bat speed?

In short, choking up on the bat helps players have better bat control, increases their bat speed, and prevents players from getting jammed. Choking up on the bat is also a strategy many players use to put the ball in play when they have two strikes in the count.

Does a heavier softball bat hit farther?

Heavier Bats

A heavier bat will hit a ball farther than a lighter bat, when the speed of the bat swing, the pitch speed and the ball mass are kept constant. Increasing the mass of the bat gives the ball more momentum.

Does the rope bat work?

For new players or for players who are suffering from serious swing issues, I would recommend the Rope Bat as a very good tool to try. Because it won't work when swung improperly, it will literally force the hitter to keep their hands up and inside the ball in order to produce the desired bat lag through the zone.

How do I consistently hit a line drive?

Make Hitting Line Drives A Conscious Habit - The biggest key to getting players to hit this way is to enforce the idea of line drives every time they pick up a bat and hit a ball. They constantly need to be reminded to hit line drives. Ultimately, they need to be reminding themselves.

What does high tee drill do?

High Tee Drill. The high tee is a great drill to keep a swing short and powerful. Many hitters have the issue of having too long of a swing which causes the barrel to drop underneath the ball resulting in pop ups.

How do I stop hitting the grounders in golf?

The three things you need to do to correct the issue of topping the golf ball is:

  1. Keep your head still throughout the backswing. ...
  2. Next, you need to make sure you take a divot at impact. ...
  3. Finally, in order to create that divot, you'll need to shift your weight forward to your front side throughout the downswing.