Slap hitting footwork

Setup

1. Slappers bat from the left-hand box. Right-handed throwers can learn it too; start them early so it feels normal.
2. Mark the batter's starting spot and two footprints with chalk or tape: step 1 and step 2, both toward the pitcher.
3. A feeder tosses from behind an L-screen about 6 m away, slightly toward first base. The slapper wears a helmet with a face guard.
4. Put a shortstop and third baseman out to field the slaps, wearing face masks if you have them.

How it runs

1. Dry footwork first: the slapper stands at the back of the box and walks through step 1 and step 2 ten times with a bat, no ball.
2. Step 1: the left foot crosses over in front of the right, toward the pitcher. Step 2: the right foot lands pointing at the pitcher.
3. Add front toss. The feeder releases as the slapper starts step 1. Contact happens as the right foot lands, and the slapper keeps running to first.
4. Aim the slap on the ground into the gap between shortstop and third. The fielders roll the ball back to the bucket.
5. Rounds of six slaps, then swap with the next slapper. Freeze after contact for the first round to check the body position.

Coaching points

• Shoulders stay closed to the pitcher through step 1. If the front shoulder opens, the bat drags behind.
• Hands stay back and the barrel stays above the hands, so the ball is hit down.
• Contact out in front of the body as the right foot lands. The run to first starts with the swing.
• Eyes stay on the ball through contact; don't look to first base early.
• Some coaches teach a cross-behind step 1. Pick one version and keep it the same for every slapper in your team.

Common mistakes

• Running out of the box before the bat touches the ball.
• Stepping toward first instead of toward the pitcher, which pulls the bat off the ball.
• Dropping the barrel and hitting soft pop-ups.
• Feeder tossing before the slapper moves, so the timing never matches a real pitch.