Training for softball?

[nc0ffey]

As some of you may know, I play church league softball and last year (the first team we've had in like 13 years) we sucked. But I realized quickly last season that I wasnt in "softball shape" I hurt my arm throwing early in the season and it bothered me for most of it. Just curious what exercises I could do to prepare for the season that starts in late april....i've already started back up hitting, im starting with working off of a tee trying to get the swing back (well not really get it back...just kinda find a swing that works) then in late feb. me and some friends are gonna start hitting pitches and work on fielding on the weekends so we come into the season looking better than we did last year.

Any ideas of what else I/we could do to prepare?

[nc0ffey]

Re: Training for softball?

I am hitting better off the tee now than i was at the end of last season, i think i improved my swing a lot just working with it, i just hope i can get it to carry over to hitting soft toss then with pitches

[nc0ffey]

Re: Training for softball?

I am hitting better off the tee now than i was at the end of last season, i think i improved my swing a lot just working with it, i just hope i can get it to carry over to hitting soft toss then with pitches

[nc0ffey]

Re: Training for softball?

I'm also working on hitting lefty...cuz i might play co-ed this year too...

[nc0ffey]

Re: Training for softball?

I'm also working on hitting lefty...cuz i might play co-ed this year too...

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Training for softball?

Get use to throwing the ball, I was in baseball shape last time I played softball, but after a while my elbow started to hurt each time I try to chuck the ball (since I was LF/CF at that time, I would just rifle the ball back to the infield) to the point where I couldn't throw more than 20 feet. As for hitting, the tee and all works. Just don't overdo it.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Training for softball?

Get use to throwing the ball, I was in baseball shape last time I played softball, but after a while my elbow started to hurt each time I try to chuck the ball (since I was LF/CF at that time, I would just rifle the ball back to the infield) to the point where I couldn't throw more than 20 feet. As for hitting, the tee and all works. Just don't overdo it.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Training for softball?

As for switch-hitting, if it doesn't feel a little natural on the other side, I'd say practice of the tee a lot on that side, then ease your way to easy pitching, then to real pitching. If you do that right you should be ready in by the time your league starts.

I wish my church did something like that, I'd own.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Training for softball?

As for switch-hitting, if it doesn't feel a little natural on the other side, I'd say practice of the tee a lot on that side, then ease your way to easy pitching, then to real pitching. If you do that right you should be ready in by the time your league starts.

I wish my church did something like that, I'd own.

[nc0ffey]

Re: Training for softball?

after a while my elbow started to hurt each time I try to chuck the ball

thats what I did, i could throw it from deep left center into the infield but once i hurt my arm i could barely get it to hop to the cutoff man, i shouldve moved infield but instead i kept playing OF and it didnt get time to heal until i missed a couple games going to the beach

[nc0ffey]

Re: Training for softball?

after a while my elbow started to hurt each time I try to chuck the ball

thats what I did, i could throw it from deep left center into the infield but once i hurt my arm i could barely get it to hop to the cutoff man, i shouldve moved infield but instead i kept playing OF and it didnt get time to heal until i missed a couple games going to the beach

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Training for softball?

thats what I did, i could throw it from deep left center into the infield but once i hurt my arm i could barely get it to hop to the cutoff man, i shouldve moved infield but instead i kept playing OF and it didnt get time to heal until i missed a couple games going to the beach

Yeah, it's the weight of the ball that got to me because I was perfectly fine with throwing baseballs. I haven't tried out what I said but I'm sure it'll work.

Well, good luck.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Training for softball?

thats what I did, i could throw it from deep left center into the infield but once i hurt my arm i could barely get it to hop to the cutoff man, i shouldve moved infield but instead i kept playing OF and it didnt get time to heal until i missed a couple games going to the beach

Yeah, it's the weight of the ball that got to me because I was perfectly fine with throwing baseballs. I haven't tried out what I said but I'm sure it'll work.

Well, good luck.

[Blzer]

Re: Training for softball?

As for switch-hitting, if it doesn't feel a little natural on the other side, I'd say practice of the tee a lot on that side, then ease your way to easy pitching, then to real pitching. If you do that right you should be ready in by the time your league starts.

I wish my church did something like that, I'd own.

As for hitting switch, I started doing it about 4 years ago. If you're a natural right-handed thrower trying to hit left-handed, make sure that you really strengthen your left hand, especially in softball. In softball, you really need a much better finish, it's not as important as the point of contact, especially when you want some power behind it.

If you're looking to slap-hit, then don't worry about your left hand... focus on leading your bottom hand with the knob, and then just whip your back shoulder around... don't even worry about finishing, that's all you need to do. However, it takes a lot of practice to get a good swing like that, and I'd suggest some daily drills for you to try out. They involve tee work, and soft-toss (if you have a partner), ONLY with your bottom hand (top hand gets tucked under your opposite arm's armpit to keep shoulders same width apart during the whole swing). If you're doing slow-pitch softball, don't bother with pitching machines.

It took me only a few minutes to be able to see clearly batting left-handed, I guess my right eye is my dominant eye or something. But, really though... if batting left-handed doesn't feel right within a week's worth of practicing (in terms of being able to see the pitch come, etc.), then don't bother with it. But, if it's just the feel of not having been able to swing a lot yet, then that's okay, keep practicing.

[Blzer]

Re: Training for softball?

As for switch-hitting, if it doesn't feel a little natural on the other side, I'd say practice of the tee a lot on that side, then ease your way to easy pitching, then to real pitching. If you do that right you should be ready in by the time your league starts.

I wish my church did something like that, I'd own.

As for hitting switch, I started doing it about 4 years ago. If you're a natural right-handed thrower trying to hit left-handed, make sure that you really strengthen your left hand, especially in softball. In softball, you really need a much better finish, it's not as important as the point of contact, especially when you want some power behind it.

If you're looking to slap-hit, then don't worry about your left hand... focus on leading your bottom hand with the knob, and then just whip your back shoulder around... don't even worry about finishing, that's all you need to do. However, it takes a lot of practice to get a good swing like that, and I'd suggest some daily drills for you to try out. They involve tee work, and soft-toss (if you have a partner), ONLY with your bottom hand (top hand gets tucked under your opposite arm's armpit to keep shoulders same width apart during the whole swing). If you're doing slow-pitch softball, don't bother with pitching machines.

It took me only a few minutes to be able to see clearly batting left-handed, I guess my right eye is my dominant eye or something. But, really though... if batting left-handed doesn't feel right within a week's worth of practicing (in terms of being able to see the pitch come, etc.), then don't bother with it. But, if it's just the feel of not having been able to swing a lot yet, then that's okay, keep practicing.