Softball Hitting Drills by Age: 13U to High School
The best softball hitting drills change as she grows. At 14U and in high school, prepare for speed, spin and the 43-foot circle — and train the body that repeats the swing. Hitter 7 to 12? Start at 46/60 Academy, AHD’s youth academy.
By BK · 52 years playing, coaching and scouting · Updated October 16, 2026
Find your path
- I need help getting betterOnline baseball & softball hitting lessonsAHD Academy courses →
- What’s wrong with my swing?Casting, rolling over, dumping the barrel, balance, bat pathFree SwingChecker™ →
- What should my kid do?Plans for 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and high schoolDrills by age →
- How do I hit this pitch?Fastball, curveball, changeup, high heat, rise and drop ballHitting Processor hub →
- How do I train at home?Practice plans, tee work, strength, drills by ageTraining plans →
- I need a real coachScottsdale lessons, remote coaching, team campsCoaching options →
Ages 7 to 12? Start at 46/60 Academy
AHD’s courses are built for hitters 13 and up. For ages 7 to 12, our youth academy, 46/60 Academy, has plans built for younger kids and the parents who toss to them: short sessions, one skill at a time, and a lot of fun reps.
What should she work on at each age?
| Age | Focus | Good drills |
|---|---|---|
| 7–12 | 8U, 10U and 12U hitters train at AHD’s youth academy, 46/60 Academy: balance, early timing, the zone and first changeups. | Softball drills by age (8U–12U) |
| 14U | Velocity, spin (rise, drop, curve, change), a two-strike plan, strength. | Short-distance velocity, pitch-shape reads, count at-bats |
| High school | The complete hitter: swing, strength, processor, mental game. | Three hitting days, two or three strength days, one recovery day |
Pitching distance is 43 feet in most high school and college play, and 35 or 40 feet at younger ages, so timing has to be re-learned as she moves up to 43 feet.
How do I train at home?
No cage needed. A tee, balls, a net, a phone and a plan. Give every session one purpose, film it and keep a score.
- Softball hitting drills at home
- Timing work — start when her hands separate
- Train the eyes without swinging
- Softball strength training
- 5-minute daily pitch recognition
Timing, speed and spin as she moves up
A roughly 70 mph fastpitch pitch gives about the reaction time of a mid-90s baseball fastball. Speed is only part of it — she also has to read pitches that rise, drop and run.
Fast pitching · Rise ball · Drop ball · Curve and screwball · Changeup · The Hitting Processor hub.
Swing, slap or both?
She should slap if she has real speed, will train left-side footwork daily and wants to. If she’s slapping only to escape a swing that isn’t working, keep building the full swing and add the slap later as a weapon.
Slap or hit away? · Slapping basics · Bunting in softball · Softball vs baseball swing.
Bat size, bat speed and power
Softball bat size chart · Build a bat speed profile · Bat speed by age · Exit velocity by age · Hit it farther.
The complete softball hitting drills by age: 13u to high school library
Every AHD guide on this topic, in the order I’d read them.
Drills and practice plans
Softball Hitting Drills at Home (No Cage Needed)Softball hitting drills at home with no cage: 9 small-space drills, a 20-minute session plan, how to film it, and how to keep it fun for your hitter.
How to Hit a Softball: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fastpitch HittersHow to hit a softball, step by step: stance, load and timing to the windmill, seeing the ball, swing path, contact and finish for fastpitch hitters 10–18.
Softball Batting Stance: The Setup That Lets Her MoveSoftball batting stance basics: width, weight, knees, hands and bat angle, where to stand in the box vs rise, drop and speed, and the mistakes to fix.
Softball Strength Training for Hitters: What to Train, by Age and SeasonSoftball strength training for hitters: what to train for bat speed, how it changes by age, in-season vs off-season weeks, and how to keep it safe.
Hand-Eye Coordination Drills for Baseball and Softball HittersFive hand-eye coordination drills for baseball and softball hitters that train visual focus, tracking, timing and decision-making—not just quick hands.
Speed, spin and timing
How to Time a Fastpitch Pitcher: Softball Hitting Timing Made SimpleHow to time a fastpitch pitcher: when to start the load off the windmill, how to be on time for the fastball, adjust to the change, and rhythm drills.
How to Hit Fast Pitching in Softball (60+ MPH)How to hit fast pitching in softball: start earlier, shorten the move, hunt one zone, train safely at short distance and win the mental side vs 60+ mph.
How to Hit a Rise Ball in Fastpitch SoftballHow to hit a rise ball in fastpitch softball: lay off the one above your hands, set your eyes at the top of the zone, read spin early, plus drills.
How to Hit a Drop Ball in Fastpitch SoftballHow to hit a drop ball in fastpitch softball: stay through the ball, match its plane, lay off the drop below the knees early in counts, plus 4 drills.
How to Hit a Curveball in Softball (and the Screwball)How to hit a curveball in softball: how the curve and screwball break, reading spin, where to stand, going oppo on the curve and a screwball plan.
How to Hit a Changeup in Fastpitch SoftballHow to hit a changeup in softball: read the release, stay back with the hands, use the middle of the field and train pitch recognition daily.
Softball Two Strike Approach: How to Hit With Two StrikesA softball two strike approach that works: widen the zone a little, shorten up, expect her out pitch and foul off the tough ones. A fastpitch coach’s plan.
Slap, short game and numbers
Should My Daughter Slap or Hit Away? A Parent’s Decision GuideShould my daughter slap or hit away? A fastpitch coach’s guide to slap hitting vs swinging away: speed, handedness, age, commitment and team needs.
Softball Slapping Basics: How to Slap (Soft Slap vs Hard Slap)Softball slapping basics: who should learn to slap, the footwork, soft slap vs hard slap, the batter’s box rule and drills for slap hitting beginners.
How to Bunt in Softball: Sacrifice, Drag, Push and SqueezeHow to bunt in softball: the grip, pivot vs square, bat angle, where to aim, and the sacrifice, drag, push and squeeze bunts every fastpitch hitter needs.
Softball Bat Size Chart: Fastpitch Bat Length, Weight and Drop by AgeSoftball bat size chart for fastpitch: length, weight and drop by age, 3 at-home fit tests, and why a bat that’s too heavy hurts her swing.
The Softball Bat Speed ProfileSoftball bat speed test: profile speed across 2–3 bat weights with a swing sensor. A Division I study found it reliable and linked to game stats.
How to Hit a Softball Farther (and Harder): A Fastpitch Power GuideHow to hit a softball farther: power comes from bat speed, contact quality and launch. What to train, what to fix first, and why drills alone won’t add it.
Your next step
About 3 minutes. Ranks your hitter’s #1 priority across the 4 pillars with cues, drills and free lessons.
Run it free →All 4 pillars for baseball and fastpitch hitters. Lessons 1–3 free.
See the course →Remote coaching with BK: starting evaluation across all 4 pillars, a personal 90-day plan, all 7 courses, video analysis of swings and game at-bats, and direct text access. $1,995 for 90 days, limited to 12 athletes.
See remote coaching →Private and semi-private lessons for baseball and fastpitch hitters in Scottsdale and the Phoenix area. Text Coach for current rates.
Scottsdale lessons →12 to 60 players, ages 8 through high school, baseball, fastpitch or combined. Coach travels.
Camps & clinics →AHD’s youth path: 30-day courses built for younger hitters and their parents.
Visit 46/60 Academy →Questions
Where should softball hitters ages 7 to 12 start?
At 46/60 Academy, AHD’s youth academy, with softball drills for 8U, 10U and 12U and short plans a parent can run at home.
How far is the pitching distance in softball?
43 feet in most high school and college play, and 35 or 40 feet at younger ages, depending on the league.
When should my daughter start slapping?
When she has real speed, will train left-side footwork daily and wants to. If she is slapping only to escape a swing that isn’t working, build the full swing first.
How can she practice softball hitting at home?
A tee, balls, a net and a phone are enough. Short sessions with one purpose — tee targets, timing work and pitch-recognition calls — beat random swings.
More AHD guides
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