Does anyone have any hitting drills, or baseball drills in general that they just love to do, or think really work well. I am always looking for new, and cool drills to incorporate into my practices. All ideas welcome!

Tee work groups of 2, 15 each (3-sets)

1) Vary height of ball, hit from differing positions

2) Inside, Outside and Middle Drill - locate tee to hit from these positions

 

Soft Toss groups of 2, 15 each (3 sets)

1) 2) Inside, Outside and Middle Drill - locate tee to hit from these positions

2) Live toss 15' away, from behind "L screen

 

BP groups of 2, 10 each (3 sets)

1) Live overhand toss behind "L screen from 15'

 

Step and Stride groups of 4, 20 each (3-sets)

1) Player loads, steps and stride in rapid fashion and no swing

 

Bat Speed groups of 2, 15 swings each bat (2-sets)

1) Player swings 4 bats, from heaviest to lightest with correct form

 

Color of Dot groups of 3, 10 swings (2-sets)

1) 3 different color dots about size of quarter on Baseball and batter must say color of dot, on each pitch thrown

 

...many, many more

Two Tee Drill groups of 2,15 each (3 sets)

Need two batting tees and first tee is placed in relation of hitters front foot and to hit pitch up the middle. Second is 12" behind the first and 3" higher. This makes the hitter swing down and through the ball, leveling out the swing at contact.

 

Point of Contact Holds groups of 2, 15 each (3 sets)

The player must use a tee and have proper mechanics while anticipating the pitch, balance and weight back on the inside part of the knee, is essential when starting to hit or if using a partner, when they start to toss the ball. As the batter makes contact, STOP the swing and hold, once contact is made. This will teach hands inside the ball and proper timing for hands.

 

Front Toss/Curves groups of 2, 10 each (3 sets)

Toss behind using "L" screen and throw into batters hitting zone and the tosser will throw 5 curve ball, with underhand wrist turn and than 5 fastball with no wrist turn, alternating curve/fastball. This drill makes the batter focus on "timing" and that the stride is a timing device, to adjust to the velocity of the pitch being thrown.

Strike 3, I believe you and I need to talk sometime. You seem to know a lot about the game. I sure would like to have you around my practices. I've got a few pretty neat drills that I like to use. (1) try soft tossing the minature marshmallows or (2) I like to see they guys use a broom handle cut off at about 30 inches, and they hit a golf wiffle ball. It takes them a few swings to hit the wiffle ball, but after they get it, they get into the groove. If they can hit those two small things, then a baseball looks like a basketball coming at them. I have a few more, but I can't give away all my secrets. I would like to get some drills on hitting a breaking ball. Most kids can hit the fastballs, but if you get a pithcer who can break one off, they are in trouble.

Strike 3, I believe you and I need to talk sometime. You seem to know a lot about the game. I sure would like to have you around my practices. I've got a few pretty neat drills that I like to use. (1) try soft tossing the minature marshmallows or (2) I like to see they guys use a broom handle cut off at about 30 inches, and they hit a golf wiffle ball. It takes them a few swings to hit the wiffle ball, but after they get it, they get into the groove. If they can hit those two small things, then a baseball looks like a basketball coming at them. I have a few more, but I can't give away all my secrets. I would like to get some drills on hitting a breaking ball. Most kids can hit the fastballs, but if you get a pitcher who can break one off, they are in trouble.

...thanks and I would enjoy meeting/talking with you sometime. I love the game of Baseball and I'm always willing to learn, which I do constantly.

 

A drill I like to use for hitting the curve, is the "Color of Dot" on baseball drill, where players are forced to watch the ball and pick up the spin. I also like to see this drill done with the "outside drill", where the player concentrates on hitting the ball to opposite field.

 

I like the incorporation of the whiffle ball also, in cage work. It can simulate the movement of a breaking pitch, if tossed properly.

 

Hire me as an assistant, for say $85,000 a year......

If you want some more eccentric ones, I played for a coach in college that was a doctorate in sports phys. from Ole Miss. The one I hated most was when we all went to the racquetball room(no windows) at 6 a.m.(because literature supported that was when we benefited most) and we had to hit a plastic golf ball thrown underhanded w/lights off and a strobe light to pick up the ball at different stages. That lasted until one of us was smart enough to let go of the bat and that scared him out of that drill. Now I'll give you a useful one. If a kid struggles getting his hips cleared and can't rotate on inside pitches, have him stand next to a concrete wall or fence and face it at arms length. Have him take a full cut. (use a bat you don't care much about) He'll get his hips rotated or his hands will pay. It seems impossible at first but is not at all.

I think the best one is live BP myself. That is the way I like to do it.

I think the best one is live BP myself. That is the way I like to do it.

live bp is usually a bad idea instead if your just trying to warm up, sure its good but only with reinforcement. if all you do is throw bp most of the time the players are just practicing bad swing mechanics and repeating them over and over. the tee is the best thing for you. weight transfer i feel is one of the best ways i feel you can improve your hitting especially hitting for power.

When hitting off of a tee take your normal stance and raise your lead leg and take your knee to your chest much like you are pitching for a 3 count. To do this you must keep your weight on your back foot on the way back(loading up) and then take your normal swing. This helps a player feel what its like to shift there weight.

There is millions of tee drills that i have that are hard to describe but im partial to those and they help out a lot

Tee work groups of 2, 15 each (3-sets)

1) Vary height of ball, hit from differing positions

2) Inside, Outside and Middle Drill - locate tee to hit from these positions

 

Soft Toss groups of 2, 15 each (3 sets)

1) 2) Inside, Outside and Middle Drill - locate tee to hit from these positions

2) Live toss 15' away, from behind "L screen

 

BP groups of 2, 10 each (3 sets)

1) Live overhand toss behind "L screen from 15'

 

Step and Stride groups of 4, 20 each (3-sets)

1) Player loads, steps and stride in rapid fashion and no swing

 

Bat Speed groups of 2, 15 swings each bat (2-sets)

1) Player swings 4 bats, from heaviest to lightest with correct form

 

Color of Dot groups of 3, 10 swings (2-sets)

1) 3 different color dots about size of quarter on Baseball and batter must say color of dot, on each pitch thrown

 

...many, many more

 

Great work! Those sound like great ideas for hitting drills. I know we use to do alot of those things in practice and before games until my last two years in high school playing. Hitting is the hardest thing to do in any sport and you definitely need ALOT of practice at it to be good. :thumb:

Strike 3, I believe you and I need to talk sometime. You seem to know a lot about the game. I sure would like to have you around my practices. I've got a few pretty neat drills that I like to use. (1) try soft tossing the minature marshmallows or (2) I like to see they guys use a broom handle cut off at about 30 inches, and they hit a golf wiffle ball. It takes them a few swings to hit the wiffle ball, but after they get it, they get into the groove. If they can hit those two small things, then a baseball looks like a basketball coming at them. I have a few more, but I can't give away all my secrets. I would like to get some drills on hitting a breaking ball. Most kids can hit the fastballs, but if you get a pithcer who can break one off, they are in trouble.

When I played my old coach would make us hit the golf wiffle balls with the broom stick. This created good hand/eye coordination.

 

It also worked well for him as a coach we won the district twice in 4 years.

Dry drills are also useful. They sound cheesy and ineffective, but simply envisioning pitches, working on proper fundamentals. This is a very easy drill that a kid can do alone if they have no one to practice with, and all that is needed is a bat.

Men, I could read this kind of stuff all night ! Love the art of hitting a baseball since I read Ted Williams book when I was 11 years old. All of you guys must be good coaches and I hope the kids and their parents appreciate you because of the time that you give .

I think the best one is live BP myself. That is the way I like to do it.

:thumb:

People sometimes forget the importance of hitting off a tee. You can work on mechanics, pitch location, your stride and anything else...in a controlled environment.

People sometimes forget the importance of hitting off a tee. You can work on mechanics, pitch location, your stride and anything else...in a controlled environment.

Agreed and many variations, positions, heights to adjust the tee....to work on many swing planes.

 

Players must practice and mentally understand, any pitch thrown above the position of the hands during the load, need to be taken.....If you have a tee, that has an extension, raise to hand height and practice the stride, while taking the pitch and reinforce this drill, than with high soft tosses...mixing in normal pitches for the batter to swing at, than back to high. This will train muscle memory on "laying off the high pitches".

 

A Tee can be a tremendous hitting instructional tool, if used properly and creatively.

 

Vary the locations of the tee, hitting outside, inside and middle of the strike zone with changes in heights, during set workouts.