Game version
Target-zone hitting: two teams of two take turns hitting off the tee toward zones in the field. Each team adds up only its own solid hits.
Grip and Stance Basics
Set a relaxed grip and a balanced stance you can repeat every time you step into the box.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Hold the bat in your fingers with the middle knuckles lined up.
Core: Soft toss. Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Bat, mirror or window
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Hitting
The steps
How it works
- Hold the bat in your fingers with the middle knuckles lined up.
- Feet a little wider than your shoulders, knees soft, weight on the balls of your feet.
- Hands near your back shoulder, both eyes on the pitcher.
- Step out and set up again 15 times.
Coaching point
Fingers, not palms. Both eyes forward.
Safety: Check that nobody is within two bat lengths before every swing.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a setup: Less (tee), Core (soft toss), More (soft toss to a zone). Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10.
Story
You are a slugger in the championship game, and every swing is your turn at bat.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free softball week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.