the right batting stance

Question
My daughter is 11 and very small. She is currently playing on a tournament team and is having trouble making contact. Her speed is pretty good but she drops her back shoulder and tends to swing up. She's getting a lot of different advice so I'd like to know exactly what her stance should look like and what drills I can practice with her at home to make her a more productive hitter.

Answer
Hello Maureen,  

Her stance will be wider in fastpitch than it was in slowpitch.  Slightly wider than shoulder width at minimum.  There should be little to no step involved in the swing.  If you feel she is dropping her hands and swinging up at the ball, have her stand next to a fence with the fence located at the same place a catcher would be while standing in her hitting stance.  With her back foot approximately 6 inches from fence, she should be able to complete her swing without hitting the fence.  If she is indeed dropping her hands, she will in all likelihood hit the fence when she starts her swing.  

After she feels comfortable with this drill, place a ball on a tee and using the same stance against the fence, have her hit several balls off the tee.  You MUST emphasis that the head stays stationary through the swing in this drill and that the front foot is not opening up toward third base.  If she maintains a still head and does not open up the front foot, she will start hitting the ball better.  Try these things and let me know how it is going.

Coach Mike