Batting vs. Hitting: What's the Difference?
/In cased you missed last week’s big announcment, Practice Pro is introducing our new Hitting School! Coach Marisa Belpedio talked about where she came from and why she wants to help you level up your hitting in her last blog.
Now for part 2…
At Practice Pro Batting, our goal is to provide premier-level batting instruction that helps each athlete elevate their swing, refine their mindset, and embrace the unique opportunity every at-bat offers to make a meaningful impact for their team.We believe that batting is more than just mechanics–it's a mindset and a moment to lead. Through personalized group training, we help players grow. Athletes will become better as individual batters and as confident players who understand how their personal excellence is able to fuel team success.
When it comes to softball, the difference between a good hitter and a great batter isn’t just about swing mechanics—it’s about mindset.
The word “hitting” often emphasizes the physical side of the game: stance, mechanics, timing, and power. But the term “batting” encompasses more. Batting includes the entire mental process that leads up to, and supports, the act of hitting; that shift in language AND mindset can change everything. In simple Practice Pro Pitching terminology- it’s the difference in becoming a pitcher from a thrower, just on the offensive side of the ball.
The Mental Edge in Batting
Batting isn’t just about making contact. It’s about making decisions. It’s about recognizing pitches, anticipating situations, and managing emotions in high-pressure moments. Batting engages your brain as much as your body. When you train as a batter—not just a hitter—you’re working on mental discipline, strategy, and awareness, all of which elevate your performance.
Hitting vs. Batting: A Key Distinction
Hitting lessons often focus exclusively on:
Mechanics and swing path
Timing and rhythm
Strength and hand-eye coordination
Batting lessons incorporate:
Pitch recognition and timing under pressure
Situational awareness (e.g., when to be aggressive or patient)
Emotional regulation and confidence at the plate
Mental toughness and focus
Mechanics and swing path
Timing and rhythm
Strength and hand-eye coordination
By acknowledging and referring to lessons as “batting lessons,” players start to see themselves as thinkers and competitors who have a game plan at the plate. You’re no longer just reacting—you’re anticipating, adapting, and controlling the moment.
Benefits of the “Batting” Mindset
Improved Decision-Making: You’re trained to swing at your pitch, not just any pitch. That split-second judgment is sharpened through mental reps, not just physical drills.
Greater Composure Under Pressure: Batters are taught to manage the mental game—breathing techniques, meditation, habitual routines, and positive self-talk—which leads to more consistent performance in high-stress situations.
Better Plate Discipline: When athletes are taught to think through each at-bat—considering the count, the pitcher’s tendencies, and game context—they swing smarter, not harder.
Long-Term Development: Mental toughness and softball IQ don’t fade with age or a slump. By developing the mental side of batting, a foundation is created which has the ability to carry players through the ups and downs of a season and more importantly, through challenging life events.
A New Approach to Batting
Here at Practice Pro we train the physical, teach the mental, and nurture the emotional growth of every athlete.
With a mix of traditional drills, swing metrics, as well as visualization, pitch tracking, and even journaling about at-bats, you can turn any ‘hitter’ into a ‘batter’ in no time.
As a parent, friend, coach, or teammate, we would love for you to be a part of the process in helping develop your loved ones by offering positive reinforcement, constructive criticism, and asking questions that stimulate the development of empowerment within each athlete.
We encourage questions like:
What was the pitcher trying to do?
What was your plan for that at-bat?
How did you respond mentally after a missed pitch?
What do you think you could have done better?
What do you think you did well?
Those are batting questions, and they build complete players—not just good hitters.
Hitting is the action.
Batting is the art.
When players start seeing themselves as batters, they unlock a whole new level of performance—one where athletic ability meets mental sharpness, and where the real game is won: in the space between the pitches.
Train the swing.
Master the mind.
Become a batter.
I look forward to my time here at Practice Pro, and I hope to inspire the future of offensive-greatness alongside you. Let’s get to work becoming batters that pitchers fear. See you in the cages!
