Comments on How to Hit a Home Run

When you run to a base and you are going to the next base, use your left foot to round the bag, your right foot.

Practice with wood, win with aluminum! By practicing with a wood bat you will learn where the "sweet spot" is located. Aluminum bats have a wider sweet spot thus causing players to take a wider swing (casting their hands). By using a wood bat in practice not only will you benefit in the heavier weight but you will get immediate feedback on whether you hit the sweet spot and also shorten your swing.

The key to hitting a home run (along with solid contact) is bat speed, which is generated by the sequential motion of various joints. It starts with a step, then the hips turn, the shoulders bring the arms through, and finally there is a roll of the wrists. All of these motions generate a great deal of power when performed in sequence (with speed). You don't hit home runs with just your arms. You use your entire body!

when your batting, do not overthink about hitting a home run, just got through the motions you do in practice and they will come naturally, trust me.

Your grip while batting should be as firm as you can stand it. Any play in the bat while you swing will be taken up by the ball before it heads the other direction! A loose grip means you are transferring a fraction of the power you are swinging with.

In practice have your pitcher throw the ball with different angles so that you can be ready for different types of speed and distances over the plate. Trust me I'm an MVP!

Put your left hand under your right hand, make sure your knuckles are in a row, and your thumb is up. When you go to raise your bat, your thumb should be by your ear. This hand position gives you a better grip, so you can put more force behind the swing.

The key to hitting a home run in slow pitch softball is a smooth consistent swing. Load up before the pitch by extending you arms back behind your body, instead of holding them by the ear. Keep the hands high, you don't want to get under the ball. Wait for the pitch over the plate or just off the outside corner of the plate. The key is to make a normal, smooth swing. Do not try to kill the ball! The smooth swing, with extended arms, will cause the wrist to make a powerful turnover, thus putting tremendous power into the ball. Also by doing this, the ball is not over-spinning. It will continue on its flight. For every 10 home runs I hit on a 310 foot field, 8 are to dead center and the opposite field. Smooth is better than grip it and rip it.

When you practice, use a heavier bat than what you would in a game. If you practice with a heavier bat and use a lighter bat during a game, you'll have a faster swing. Practice a few swings before you bat though, so you don't swing too early or too late.

Do not use a wide stance. You will lose power. Your feet should line up with your shoulders. When the pitcher releases the ball, follow it with your eyes and keep your head level. With the bat held at a good angle, step toward the pitcher, transferring the weight from your back foot to the forward foot. At the same time, extend your arms, releasing a smooth, fluid, fast swing. By holding the bat with your pinkie below the knob, you can gain a little extra bat length. Do not use a heavy bat. Only use heavy bats if you are a monster.

Relax your arms until the swing and keep your knuckels even. A step toward the pitcher keeps power in your zone area. Push off with your back leg, extend your arms, follow through on the swing, and explode into the ball.

Many hitter claim that all of your power comes from the rolling of the wrists, but you will actually have the most power and the greatest chance of hitting a home run before, not after, you roll your wrists.

I have found that if I keep my feet closer together in my stance and I stride toward the pitcher during the swing, it has increased my power tenfold. It'll take some practice to get used to the new style, but the results will be basehits.

I use a Eason stealth that way 30oz an dis 33 inches long and I am 5'6" and hit alot of homeruns not just barley over but towing shots. I think if you can swing a havey bat use that on a slow pitcher not fast

The key to hitting a home run in slow pitch softball is a smooth consistent swing. Load up before the pitch by extending you arms back behind your body, instead of holding them by the ear. Keep the hands high, you don't want to get under the ball. Wait for the pitch over the plate or just off the outside corner of the plate. The key is to make a normal, smooth swing. Do not try to kill the ball! The smooth swing, with extended arms, will cause the wrist to make a powerful turnover, thus putting tremendous power into the ball. Also by doing this, the ball is not over-spinning. It will continue on its flight. For every 10 home runs I hit on a 310 foot field, 8 are to dead center and the opposite field. Smooth is better than grip it and rip it.

Many hitter claim that all of your power comes from the rolling of the wrists, but you will actually have the most power and the greatest chance of hitting a home run before, not after, you roll your wrists.

Put your left hand under your right hand, make sure your knuckles are in a row, and your thumb is up. When you go to raise your bat, your thumb should be by your ear. This hand position gives you a better grip, so you can put more force behind the swing.

A heavier bat may cause a bad swing by dragging the bat through the strike zone. When warming up, swing a heavy bat upside-down. By holding the bat by the barrel, you are holding the heaviest part in your hand. This allows you to whip the bat around, and keeps your swing short and quick, while still swinging a heavier bat. I'm a little guy and I wanted to start hitting home runs every once in a while. First off, don't try to do it! You'll more than likely pop-up, or even worse - foul out. I started swinging differently. I would hitch. Meaning I would lift my knee up as the pitcher released the ball. This allows all my weight to be on my back foot. As I prepare to hit the ball, I bring my leg down and only slightly forward (you do not want to over stride). In concert with my leg movement, my hands go back. As my foot lands, I start my turn in my hips (this is where you generate the most power) and start my hands through the ball. This is a good exercise in getting your hands through the ball: Overexaggerate hitting the ball with the knob of the bat. This will do two things - it will help extend your arms, and it will assure that you are hitting the ball with the good part of the bat.

When you swing, angle your bat a little bit diagonally to help with your home run swing.

Your grip while batting should be as firm as you can stand it. Any play in the bat while you swing will be taken up by the ball before it heads the other direction! A loose grip means you are transferring a fraction of the power you are swinging with.

Holding the bat as tight as you can does not benefit you. Although explained otherwise in a previous tip, you should hold the bat loose, but enough to have a good grip on it. Your grip will automatically tighten as you swing.

When your hands are on the bat make sure your "knocking knuckles" are lined up.

Practice with wood, win with aluminum! By practicing with a wood bat you will learn where the "sweet spot" is located. Aluminum bats have a wider sweet spot thus causing players to take a wider swing (casting their hands). By using a wood bat in practice not only will you benefit in the heavier weight but you will get immediate feedback on whether you hit the sweet spot and also shorten your swing.

When you're able to place your hits, aim for the gaps. Don't try to hit a towering shot, but more of a hard line drive.

When you practice, use a heavier bat than what you would in a game. If you practice with a heavier bat and use a lighter bat during a game, you'll have a faster swing. Practice a few swings before you bat though, so you don't swing too early or too late.