Coach India Chiles talks about how the slap hitter's primary aim is to take the shortstop out of position.
The key to this? Make the ball bounce early. If the ball bounces early, the shortstop is forced to stand up and go after the ball, taking her out of position. For the slap hitter, forcing the shortstop out of her standard position is the best tactic to getting to base. Many athletes mistake hitting the ball softly with a successful hit. This correlation isn't always true: The slap hitter should always be in control of the hit by being balanced, strong and having a firm grip on the bat.
