Softball Hitter Evaluation
Date __________ Player ______________________ Level ______ Total Score _______

Stance

A. Wide base balanced 40/60 ratio (more weight on the back leg)
B. Hand in, elbows down, plug in bicep
C. Head on front shoulder with chin
D. Grip in fingers (do not squeeze the bat)
E. No upper body tension (relax upper half of torso)
F. Flat bat (start with bat almost flat on rear shoulder)

Score _________ Comments _____________________________________________

Trigger

A. Hands move back and up (backward movement)
B. No movement of bottom arm
C. Slight inward turn of front knee, hip and shoulder (do not over rotate this!)

Score _________ Comments _____________________________________________

Stride

A. Short distance (6 inches)
B. Weight on inside of front foot
C. No head movement; focus on the ball
D. Soft step like on ice
E. Stride foot, land close and parallel (do not step in the bucket)

Score _________ Comments _____________________________________________

Approach/Swing

A. Knob of bat to the ball
B. Barrel of bat stays above the hands (no loop in the swing or path of the bat)
C. Short swing to the ball/long swing through the finish
D. Hands stay inside the path of the ball (do not cast away from the body)
E. Swing slightly downward
F. Keep your head down

Score _________ Comments _____________________________________________

Hips and Explosion Phase

A. Fire the backside through the ball
B. Firm front leg (front knee inside front toe)
C. Belly button to the pitcher
D. Squash the bug with back foot; shoe strings to the pitcher

Score _________ Comments _____________________________________________

Finish

A. Finish with two hands on the bat
B. Slap shoulder blades with the bat
C. Chin on the rear shoulder, eyes on the swing zone

Score _________ Comments _____________________________________________
Grading:
4 point(s) = Mastered all skills
3 point(s) = Mastered most steps yet needs some improvement in others
2 point(s) = Lacks consistent mastering of all particular aspects yet does master some and has flaws in others
1 point(s) = The hitter is in need of improving on a majority of the skills