In my opinion this thread should be in the hitting form.
The hitting approach in my opinion certainly fits for fast pitch. We teach how to throw first as it relates to momentum, weight shift and the flexing of the lead knee. The girls are audio visual learners and being able to teach them to see it, feel it and fix it affords them the greatest opportunity to learn.
As TG points out being able to cover the entire hitting zone makes any hitter better whether it be a contact hitter or power hitter. I never say contact hitter or power hitter as it sets a paradigm (
Coop call and I will explain that to you 
) in their mind that sets limits to what they are capable of doing.
I think sometimes we self impose the limitations when we say they are slappers. We teach all of hitters that slap or bunt how to hit first and slap second. This is why we teach our right handed hitters to hit down on the ball, again based on the situation.
Our approach has been to demonstrate and teach bat control first. Our net is marked with a vertical line for up the middle and two lines horizontal lines that are 39 and 51 inches from the ground up. The tee is about 4.5 feet from the net and gives us the ability to determine if we are hitting the top, middle or middle down to increase the elevation of the ball.
Once they can hit every ball up the middle and between the two horizontal lines we are ready to hit the outside pitch and it is our belief anyone can hit or foul an inside pitch and yet never be able to hit an outside pitch.
We teach how to get balanced and track the ball and then rotate as needed based on the depth of the pitch or location of the pitch. Basically where the hips rotate or where the belly button is pointing is where the ball can be directed. The net has targets to allow the hitter to see if they can direct the ball. The plate is marked and designed to show they can hit two balls wide on an in or outside pitch giving them the confidence to use it in a game. The inside pitch is marked as to how far you can hit the pitch in front of the plate and how far back you can hit it and keep the ball in play. The same approach is used as to hitting the out side pitch from the back corner of the plate. We then marked at 4.5 inch marks going forward to allow them to see how the ball moves based on location of the pitch and depth of pitch.
Based on the situation being able to hit the balls to all fields is what makes a complete hitter. Next, we actually teach how to hit a ground ball, line drive and long ball. Notice I did not say home run as that is not the goal. We explain that with runners on second and third, can you hit the ball based on the pitch location or weakness of the defense?
In my opinion, the hitter should be thinking where I am going to hit the ball based on the situation and that we have already decided we will hit the ball as we have trained to hit the ball 9 balls high and 9 balls wide.
One of the points often over looked is how to use the wrists as if using a hammer and driving a nail. I have three hammers that are at three different lengths to demonstrate it using a rod with a ball on the end that is spring loaded and will recoil as we hit it.
Hope this helps.
Howard
