43Drills

Great information on how to but and a great baseball hitting technique to advance runners

This drill is intended to develop proper plate approach and the ability to formulate an effective batting strategy. The equipment required for this drill are bats, a helmets, and balls. This drill can also be performed with whiffle balls. For purposes of this drill, the player must be familiar with approach and hitting zones.

This is actually more like batting practice than an actual drill, and it is focused on developing a player’s approach to the plate. It starts with the pitcher close enough to the batter to have better control over the direction of the ball. The ball will be thrown 10 times for each player, with the number of strikes before stepping to the plate being announced beforehand. Each batter will have to adjust their approach depending on this strike count.

If 0 strikes are announced, the batter will hold the bat out, showing the pitcher where they would like to have the ball thrown. The number of swings that a batter has left will be determined by whether or not he swings at the ball inside or outside his hitting zone.

If only 1 strike is announced, the player’s cut is reduced by 1 each time he or she swings at a strike. If the batter swings at a pitch that goes outside the strike zone, he or she gets a penalty pitch.

If 2 strikes are announced, the batter gets a pitch penalty for every miss that falls out of the strike zone. A borderline pitch that is missed results in yet another pitch penalty. Failing to hit a strike will end the batter’s turn.

This drill aims to teach batters the important skill of being able to hit the ball in all directions on the field. In addition, this will also develop in batters the ability to quickly recognize in which direction a pitch is going.

For this drill, you will need a bat, a helmet, any type of protective screen for the pitcher, two practice cones, and a bit of colored tape. This drill can be performed during training, and it may be done as individual or group competitions between players.

The drill begins with both cones being placed on the edge of the outfield grass, with on of them right behind where the shortstop would normally be, and the other behind second base. This effectively splits up the playing field into 3 distinct areas. You then use the tape to mark out 3 equal sections on the home plate. Position the pitcher behind the screen in a spot where he can maintain proper control over the direction of the pitch.

With each pitch that is thrown, the batter should call out the direction the ball is going to, immediately before the swing. The pitcher will be in the best position to see if the batter is conscious of where the strike zone is, and whether the right calls where made prior to the hit. The tape on the home plate will help the pitcher judge the accuracy of the batter’s hit.

With the swing being one of the most techniques in baseball, drills are necessary in ensuring their proper development. This drill does precisely that, and can greatly improve the accuracy and power of your swing. A bat and a helmet may be used for single player drills, but in a group situation where there may not be enough bats available, you can opt to do without one although helmets are still necessary. Keep in mind that you will need a fair amount if space for this drill if you are performing it as a group. When done with younger players, the use of a bat may also be discarded, including it only for batting station drills.

The drill begins with each player going into the proper stance. With the designated pitcher winding up and throwing an imaginary ball, the coach yells out whether the pitch is inside or outside. The batters then go through the coil, stride, and swing movements.

Throughout this drill, the coach should makes sure that the players shoulders swivel along a level line of motion and that the bat is led by the player’s hands. The drill can be repeated as many times as the coach feels is necessary.

This drill is intended to help players develop the skills for determining proper hitting zones. This will help players get a feel for the various pitch locations, to pinpoint their preferences with regard to pitches, and to work on areas that they may be deficient in. For this drill, players should be equipped with a bat, a helmet, a batting tee, baseballs, and a home plate.

The drill requires the setting up of a batting tee on top of the home plate, positioned so that the batter can hit the ball into a fence. The coach may have to enlist the assistance of another player to help move the tees and place balls. If you have the equipment necessary, you may want to set up 3 different batting stations in a group situation; otherwise, you will have to make do with a single station.

The drill is comprised of 3 parts, with the first part requiring the player to adjust the tee to the pitch that they are most comfortable with. The player then takes a few swings and the tee is moved slightly towards them but not too far towards the inside of the plate. The tee is moved closer and closer until the player’s comfort zone limit is reached. The tee is then moved back to the starting position and then moved incrementally towards the outside of the plate. When the outer limit of the player’s comfort range has likewise been reached, the same adjustments are made to the height of the tee, finding the range that the player is most comfortable with.

The second part of the drill involves moving the tee’s placement and height outside the player’s hitting zone and having him or her take a few swings at each location.

The drill ends with the player swinging at pitches that do not qualify as strikes, but are close enough to avoid the 2-strike count. This part of the drill should be done with short, fast swings, with the bat right on the ball. This part of the drill will help players determine their optimal plate positioning and how far they should stand from it.

This drill is intended to help batters develop an essential baseball skill, which is to be able to hit pitches that are thrown in different locations over the plate. For this drill, you will a bat, a helmet, and a batting tee. This drill can also be done as a form of batting practice.

The drill begins with the batter placing the ball in the center of the plate, about 2 or 3 feet high. The batter will then take a few swings at the ball. After that, the coach should move the batting tee towards the inside and forward to the plate, in a location that approximates an inside pitch, with the batter taking a few more swings.

The tee is then move towards the outside and to the back of the plate, in order to approximate an outside pitch, with the batter again taking a few more swings. With each position of the tee, the height of the ball should be varied in order to approximate pitches that are thrown high and low. The tee can also be moved to positions other than the batter’s box position in order to approximate a wider range of pitches.

It is important for the batter to always keep his or her eyes focused on where the pitcher would normally be standing.

This drill works well with younger players, 8 to 12 year-olds especially.

Personnel:

Two coaches, Coach A at the plate and Coach B in the 3^rd base coaches box.

Equipment:

• Hit-a-Way hitting stick
• Two gloves or other suitable objects to place on the baseline.
• A bat for each player.
• A least 3 batting helmets
• Standard bases.

Place a glove or other object such as an orange cone centered between 1^st and 2^nd base and 4 feet back from the line running directly between the two bags.

Place a glove or other object such as an orange cone centered between 2nd and 3rd base and 4 feet back from the line running directly between the two bags.

Line each player up along the fence by the 3^rd base dugout. Each player should have his or her bat. Bats should remain with the head on the ground and the players should act like they are leaning on a cane. (This is to keep them from swinging the bats and possibly hurting someone.)

First player in line goes to the plate and takes a stance.

Coach A takes the hitting stick and stands on the opposite side of the plate as the batter and holds the hitting stick out over the plate.

The batter takes 3 to 5 cuts at the stick; Coach A watches the stance, swing, etc., instructing the batter to improve their technique. On one of the swings, Coach A moves the hitting stick completely around and steps forward, out of the way of a right-handed batter heading to 1^st. This motion signifies a “hit.”

The batter takes the bat and carries it for 2 steps toward 1^st and then drops it in foul territory.

Batter continues around the bases at a full run, working hard to stay inside the gloves or cones between the bases.

Coach B watches the runner round each bag and come into 3^rd either in a slide (if the player has sliding shorts on) or standing up. Coach B then can debrief the runner at 3^rd.

After the batter has taken off for 1^st, Coach A brings the next player to the plate and begins working on that player’s swing.

Repeat this for each player at least once, more if time allows.

Techniques being taught:

• Hitting fundamentals
• Maintaining control of the bat after a hit to avoid “throwing” the bat.
• Running on the inside line around the bases.
• Sliding technique or how to hold up at a base.

Get 5 to 6 players spread out in front of you, each of which will take their stance and get ready for the pitch. Coach will simulate a stretch followed by the delivery of an imaginary pitch. Each player will work on the proper timing of getting in position to bunt.

Place a bat behind the waist and horizontal to the ground. Hold the ends of the bat in the hands and assume a normal batting stance then watch an imaginary pitch being delivered. Execute a stride and quick turn using the bat to help turn the hips faster. Finish in the proper contact position. This drill will result in a quicker hip and thus the entire swing.