Pulling the Ball Foul (Fast-Pitch)
Also known as: keep hitting foul balls to the left, hitting foul balls to the left, pulling the ball foul softball, pulling foul fastpitch, hooking the ball foul softball, foul balls to the pull side softball
Foul balls to the left for a right-handed hitter, or to the right for a lefty, usually mean you hit the ball too far out in front. You started early, opened your lead shoulder too soon or tried to pull an outside pitch. Let the ball travel deeper and drive it up the middle.
In fast pitch, the changeup is the usual culprit. You read a fastball from the circle, start early and are way out in front of the slower pitch. The barrel meets the ball before your ideal contact point, with the face already angled toward the line, so it hooks out of play.
Outside pitches cause others. Trying to yank a ball on the outer edge drags the barrel across it.
Hard misses to that side are not all bad. They show bat speed and a hitter who is a bit early, which is easier to fix than being late. Move your contact point back a little. Keep the lead shoulder closed a beat longer and think middle of the field.
Tips by skill level
Aim your next swing at the shortstop if you bat right-handed, or the second baseman if you bat left-handed.
Track these misses by pitch type. If most come on changeups, work on timing. If most come on outside pitches, work on direction.
Example
A right-handed hitter keeps ripping changeups down the third-base line, out of play. Her coach has her stay back and aim at the shortstop. Her next changeup goes into left-center for a hit.
Why it matters
These misses waste strikes. Hitters who read them as a timing signal can turn them into hits.
Common mistakes
- Trying to turn on outside pitches
- Swinging at the changeup with fastball timing
- Opening the lead shoulder early
- Moving up in the box against a changeup pitcher without adjusting
Frequently asked questions
Why do I keep pulling the ball foul in softball?
You are making contact too far out front. Let the ball travel deeper and aim up the middle.
Is hitting foul balls to the pull side a good sign?
Partly. It shows bat speed, but you are early. Fix the timing and those misses become hits.
Related terms
- Early Swing TriggerAn early swing trigger is a timing mistake: committing to the swing before release. It usually causes weak contact out front or a miss on late movement.
- Adjusting to Speed ChangesAdjusting to speed changes means retiming your load and swing when a slower pitch follows fast ones. It avoids being "way out in front" of a changeup.
- Outside Pitch ApproachThe outside pitch approach is the technique for driving an outer-third pitch — staying back, extending through the ball deeper in the zone, and using the whole field rather than trying to pull it.
- Front Shoulder Flying OpenThe front shoulder flies open when it turns toward the pitcher too early. That pulls the eyes and barrel off the ball, causing weak, pulled contact or a miss.
- Contact PointThe contact point is the specific location in front of (or at) the plate where the bat meets the ball — which varies by pitch location, pitch type, and desired ball-flight direction.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
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