A leak in my game is when I hit a hand and I'm almost sure I have my opp beat, I dont know how much to bet for value (when not trying to slowplay).

Fnords sticky says to "drop the fucking hammer" - but how much do I need to bet then? ½ pot, potsized or even overbetting the pot? I know this depends on the circumstances, but lets say for example I'm up against this loose passive player (typical fish in NL $25 on Party), how much do you typical bet when hitting a hand you are almost sure is better than your opponents?

Here's 2 hands where I was pretty sure I had my opponent beat, but I was pretty much acting in the dark when trying to figure out how much to bet for value (my read on both opps was loose passive):

***** Hand History for Game 2555983838 *****
$25 NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, August 18, 13:47:06 EDT 2005
Table Table 36954 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 2: speedraiser2 ( $7.15 )
Seat 3: najls111 ( $37.95 )
Seat 4: H2Oman23 ( $54.05 )
Seat 5: codeman365 ( $24.43 )
Seat 9: bluffboy200 ( $25.70 )
Seat 10: jenniii ( $25.65 )
Seat 7: bluffknot ( $13 )
Seat 8: Boogie711 ( $25.90 )
Seat 1: Shamgod23 ( $26.85 )
Seat 6: raptorquick ( $24.50 )
raptorquick posts small blind [$0.10].
bluffknot posts big blind [$0.25].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to bluffboy200 [ Qd As ]
Boogie711 folds.
bluffboy200 raises [$1].
jenniii folds.
Shamgod23 folds.
speedraiser2 folds.
najls111 folds.
H2Oman23 calls [$1].
codeman365 folds.
raptorquick folds.
codeman365: gh
bluffknot folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5c, 8d, Qs ]
bluffboy200 bets [$1].
H2Oman23 calls [$1].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Th ]
bluffboy200 bets [$2].
H2Oman23 calls [$2].
** Dealing River ** [ 7d ]
bluffboy200 bets [$3].
>You have options at Table 36570 Table!.
>You have options at Table 36570 Table!.
H2Oman23 calls [$3].
bluffboy200 shows [ Qd, As ] a pair of queens.
>You have options at Table 36570 Table!.
H2Oman23 doesn't show [ 9c, 9h ] a pair of nines.
bluffboy200 wins $13.65 from the main pot with a pair of queens


v***** Hand History for Game 2556183088 *****
$25 NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, August 18, 14:40:43 EDT 2005
Table Table 36954 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 2: speedraiser2 ( $8.85 )
Seat 4: H2Oman23 ( $41.55 )
Seat 9: bluffboy200 ( $64.70 )
Seat 6: raptorquick ( $19.45 )
Seat 7: jonte77 ( $42.65 )
Seat 10: legend240 ( $25.40 )
Seat 3: Nybble ( $10.70 )
Seat 1: missy84 ( $24.50 )
Seat 5: Tonyone1 ( $22.16 )
Seat 8: WinnieJan ( $13.17 )
Tonyone1 posts small blind [$0.10].
raptorquick posts big blind [$0.25].
jonte77 posts big blind + dead [$0.35].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to bluffboy200 [ Qd Kc ]
>You have options at Table 36788 Table!.
jonte77 checks.
WinnieJan folds.
>You have options at Table 36788 Table!.
>You have options at Table 36788 Table!.
bluffboy200 calls [$0.25].
legend240 folds.
missy84 folds.
speedraiser2 folds.
Nybble folds.
Tonyone1 calls [$0.15].
raptorquick checks.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5s, Kh, Qh ]
Tonyone1 checks.
raptorquick checks.
jonte77 checks.
bluffboy200: trips
bluffboy200 bets [$1].
>You have options at Table 36788 Table!.
Tonyone1 calls [$1].
raptorquick folds.
jonte77 folds.
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ks ]
Tonyone1 checks.
bluffboy200 bets [$1.50].
Tonyone1 calls [$1.50].
** Dealing River ** [ Ac ]
Tonyone1 checks.
bluffboy200 bets [$4].
Tonyone1 calls [$4].
bluffboy200 shows [ Qd, Kc ] a full house, Kings full of queens.
Tonyone1 doesn't show [ Kd, 8s ] three of a kind, kings.
bluffboy200 wins $13.40 from the main pot with a full house, Kings full of queens.