Top 5 things you need for hitting practice

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Sep 11, 2014
229
0
Pa
I am currently managing a 10u team. Here is a list of what we do for the winter, our indoor space is a little limited.

1. Soccer balls of various air pressure off a tee (insert a plunger in the tee to hold the ball) I have 3 full size soccer balls one is almost completely flat, one has a little more air, next one has a little more then the second. You really have to hit the balls HARD to get them to go anywhere.

2. Tiny wiffle balls, indoor practice golf balls. Soft toss or pitch them. I have two different colors and will sometimes throw 2 and call out a color.

3. Tee work. One handed swings with just top hand, just bottom hand, then both hands.

4. Coach pitch bunting. Coach pitches and players bunt. Coach that is pitching will give signs to location where bunt should go, 3rd or 1st base.

5. 3-2 game. Coach will pitch from about 20ft away player has a full count. If player hits ball, other coaches decide if its a base hit, foul ball and will call strikes. weak hit balls, pop ups, etc player is out. Last player hitting wins.

6. Play game with soccer balls. outside we will set up a infield and basically play kickball, but batter hits soccer ball off a tee. we use the medium air soccer ball for this. fielders obviously do not use a glove and can only throw a runner out, no hitting player with ball like kickball.

7. Kid pitch. We have our pitchers pitch to batters.

8. Pitch recognition. We have the coaches who are normally more accurate throw inside, outside, high, low from about 20-25 ft. Like I said before, we are a 10u team, so pitchers are only throwing a fastball and sometimes a change up and are likely all over the place with location.
 

Josh Greer

DFP Vendor
Jul 31, 2013
934
93
Central Missouri
I would say colored tape would be something to add to the bag as well (black duct tape is what we use). When we do tee work, my kids tend to adjust their foot work when we move the tee from middle, out, and in; which kind of defeats the purpose. I have them pick a spot that feels comfortable. Once they work their way into a comfortable spot, I use the tape to mark the spot in the box where I want them to commit to lining up for the rest of the drill. Then we can move the tee around and simulate different pitch locations.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
1. cage or open field
2. Something to keep the temperature at least 50 degrees, although will go 40s if desperate or highly motivated
3. pitching screen
4. tee
5. Good bucket to sit on for front toss (preferred, but optional)

I've used all sorts of other things, but I've abandoned them over time. Front toss and tee w/ real softballs is all I really want now.
 
Jan 25, 2011
2,282
38
Tee, net, knowledge, drive to improve and a parent or coach that knows how to pitch, to get live hitting.
 
Jan 7, 2014
972
0
Western New York
i am planning to make boardmembers' terminal velocity swing trainer. anyone else made one or use one?

Keep it simple...

1/2" or 3/4" PVC cut at 48" to still give the "barrel" some feel...and a pool noodle works just fine for the bottom...1 length of pool noodle is about 12" another about 6"

HTH

CP
 
Oct 10, 2011
1,572
38
Pacific Northwest
A girl a bat 50 softballs.



What you can do with one or two, vs groups, vs time of year. along with Different skill levels ,
travel ball, high school with as many as 40 kids:p

I am very interested in seeing people post what is being used , and the drills, the more the better
 

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