To hit an outside pitch in softball, let the ball travel deeper into the hitting zone, keep your front shoulder closed and drive the ball to the opposite field, with your hands leading the barrel through contact. The biggest mistake hitters make is trying to pull an outside pitch, which leads to weak ground balls to the pull side or balls hit off the end of the bat. Outside pitches are among the most common locations pitchers use, especially with two strikes, so learning to handle them turns a pitcher’s favorite spot into a hittable one. This guide explains contact points, stance and plate coverage, step-by-step technique, drills and how the approach differs from inside pitches.
Rulebook note: The strike zone and batter’s box rules differ slightly between NFHS, NCAA and USA Softball. Standing closer to the plate is legal as long as you remain within the batter’s box lines. Check your league’s rulebook for specifics.
Contact points by pitch location
| Pitch | Contact point | Typical direction |
|---|---|---|
| Outside | Deeper, roughly off the middle to front of the plate | Opposite field |
| Middle | Slightly in front of the front hip | Up the middle |
| Inside | Well out in front of the plate | Pull side |
| High | Stay on top of the ball | Line drives |
| Low | Bend the knees to get down to the ball | Line drives, avoiding topped grounders |
Exact contact points vary between hitters and coaches, but the principle is consistent: the farther outside the pitch, the deeper you let it travel, and the farther inside, the earlier you meet it.
Why outside pitches are tricky
Outside pitches are farther from the hitter’s body, so the barrel has to travel farther to reach them. If a hitter opens the front shoulder or hips too early, the barrel pulls away from the outside corner, leading to weak contact or swings and misses. Pitchers know this, which is why they often work the outside corner, especially when ahead in the count. Hitters who can drive outside pitches to the opposite field force pitchers to come inside, where mistakes are easier to punish.
Stance and plate coverage
Before thinking about technique, make sure you can reach the whole plate. Stand in your normal stance and extend the bat over the plate; the barrel should cover the outside corner. If it does not, move closer. Many hitters position themselves so they can reach the outside edge comfortably without reaching, since reaching reduces power and control. Standing too far from the plate makes outside pitches much harder to hit.
Step-by-step: hitting the outside pitch
- Recognize the location early from the pitcher’s release and the ball’s path.
- Stay closed. Keep your front shoulder pointed at the pitcher a fraction longer.
- Stride directly toward the pitcher or slightly toward the plate, rather than away from it.
- Let the ball travel deeper into the zone.
- Lead with your hands, keeping them inside the ball so the barrel follows.
- Drive the ball to the opposite field with a firm, direct swing.
- Finish through the ball, staying balanced rather than spinning off.
Letting the ball travel does not mean letting it get past you; it means making contact later than on a middle or inside pitch. The result is usually a line drive to the opposite field, often into the gap between the opposite-field outfielder and the center fielder.
The role of the back side and head
Two details often separate hitters who handle outside pitches well from those who struggle. The first is the back side. The back hip and knee drive the rotation, but on an outside pitch, they should rotate through the ball rather than spinning open early. Coaches sometimes describe this as driving the back knee toward the pitch rather than straight around. The second is the head. Keeping the head still and tracking the ball deep into the zone lets you see the pitch longer and make contact at the right point. Hitters who pull their head out early tend to pull their shoulders with it, dragging the barrel away from the outside corner.
Both details improve with slow, deliberate repetition. Tee work with an outside location, done at partial speed while focusing on a quiet head and a controlled back side, builds the feel before you add full speed and moving pitches. Video can help too: recording a few swings from behind or from the side shows whether the shoulder or head is opening early.
Opposite-field hitting as a skill
Hitting to the opposite field is not a weaker version of hitting. Many coaches see it as a sign of good bat control and discipline. Opposite-field hitters are harder to defend because fielders cannot shift heavily to one side, and hitters who stay closed and let the ball travel also tend to handle change-ups better. Practicing opposite-field hitting builds habits that help against every pitch location.
How inside pitches differ
Inside pitches need almost the opposite approach. Meet the ball farther out in front, keep your hands tight to your body so the barrel stays inside the ball, and rotate the hips quickly to pull it. Casting the hands away from the body on an inside pitch results in contact near the handle. Understanding both approaches, and recognizing which one the pitch needs, is what gives hitters full plate coverage.
| Aspect | Outside pitch | Inside pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Contact point | Deeper | Farther in front |
| Hands | Lead the barrel, inside the ball | Stay tight to the body |
| Hips | Rotate but stay closed a little longer | Rotate quickly |
| Direction | Opposite field | Pull side |
Drills to improve against outside pitches
- Three-location tee drill: Set the tee at inside, middle and outside locations and hit each to the correct field.
- Outside tee only: Place the tee on the outside corner, slightly deeper, and drive balls to the opposite field.
- Front toss mix: A coach mixes inside and outside tosses, and you call the location before swinging.
- Opposite-field rounds: In batting practice, spend a round trying to hit every ball to the opposite field.
- Plate coverage check: Regularly check that your stance lets you reach the outside corner.
Two-strike approach
Pitchers often throw outside with two strikes, hoping the hitter will chase a pitch off the plate or make weak contact. Many hitters adjust with two strikes by moving slightly closer to the plate, shortening the swing and thinking opposite field. This approach lets them protect the outside corner while still reacting to inside pitches. It prioritizes contact over power, which makes sense when a strikeout is the worst outcome.
Reading the pitcher and the defense
Watch where the pitcher is attacking you in each at-bat and where the defense is positioned. If the defense is shifted toward your pull side and the pitcher keeps throwing outside, the opposite field may be wide open. Sharing this information with teammates helps everyone adjust.
Common mistakes
- Trying to pull outside pitches, producing weak grounders.
- Opening the front shoulder early.
- Standing too far from the plate, leaving the outside corner out of reach.
- Stepping away from the plate in the stride.
- Reaching with the arms instead of letting the ball travel.
- Casting the hands on inside pitches.
Frequently asked questions
How do you hit an outside pitch in softball?
Let the ball travel deeper, keep your front shoulder closed, lead with your hands and drive the ball to the opposite field.
Why do I keep grounding out on outside pitches?
Usually because you are trying to pull them or opening your shoulder too early. Stay closed and hit the ball where it is pitched.
Should I stand closer to the plate?
If you cannot reach the outside corner comfortably with the barrel, moving closer can help, as long as you can still handle inside pitches.
