Front Toss Tennis Balls and a Hot Rod

Seen this and tried it. took a 2' x 2' pc. plywood placed 6' from home plate set-up screen and threw the tennis ball into plywood with it bouncing-ricocheting into strike zone. This was a drill I saw at a local collage camp. My girls were all over the place trying to hit it. You can throw ball different areas of the board and the ball works every pitch location really well. Their second turn after watching really close knowing their turn was up soon my hitters got after it but missing half of them on the third trip through the drill they worker knowing you better keep an eye on the ball or else. They have to track it and smack it.

Oh PS. there is a kid about 10 who watches every one of my practices. Last night I said hay I know your a Hot Rod you want to try to hit some after I'm through with the girls ?
He looked around and realized I was talking to him and said Sure. Little feller came out on our field and one of my struggling girls said he can have my turn (funny). Hot Rod came up to bat the first 6- 8 balls flew right by him as they will. After fouling off several. I told him "now that you seen a few of them step out of the box take a beep breath and bring the hitter back in the box".

He did just that, that little feller lit them up -inside-outside-low ones fast ones . yep I knew he was a Hot Rod.

My girls loved it. My daughter ask me on the way home Dad how did you know he was a Hot Rod ? "coaches can tell honey". I went on to tell her that kid "Hot Rod"never missed any or our practices never missed a drill. all the other kids would be playing wall ball 100 feet away he would be setting with elbows on knees and head in hands watching.

If one of my assistant coaches can't ever make it I have found a new recruit. Didn't ask his name Hot Rod fits. did find out fron one of the dads he plays travel ball and is surly a Hot Rod.

That damned wood makes all the difference lol. I have a bucket of about 4 dozen tennis balls not being used but every once in a while we do that drill. My wife's friend's mother plays lots of tennis and gets rid of the flat balls, I guess the balls lose bounce and life after a while. So they just throw them away and after a few months I have a big 8 or 9 gallon bucket full and a couple grocery sized bags in my trunk and about 5 or 6 random tennis balls rolling around the house.

If you haven't already tried, you can have them hit the balls on the rise up and also have them hit it on the way back down for drops. The "bouncer" has to adjust and the hitter needs to as well and it does get frustrating as you've seen lol. But yeah, I keep telling myself to get that piece of wood to make it much more accurate bouncing but it keeps slipping my mind. I just bounce it on the dirt and I'm not a very good bouncer either.

But yes, great drill and requires lots of focus your post kicks my brain to get that wood haha. I saw on amazon they also sell dotted tennis balls and was thinking one day when I have extra money I may buy varying colors and bounce them with different instructions - hit green, bunt red. mix it up.

Coach Grady said:

Seen this and tried it. took a 2' x 2' pc. plywood placed 6' from home plate set-up screen and threw the tennis ball into plywood with it bouncing-ricocheting into strike zone.

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Not a great drill.

You would be better off to throw front toss and use the screen to protect yourself.

wave_twister said:

I saw on amazon they also sell dotted tennis balls and was thinking one day when I have extra money I may buy varying colors and bounce them with different instructions - hit green, bunt red. mix it up.

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This would make the drill even worse.

As long as you are focusing on slow and early, rhythm and a good sequence, I believe you can do just about any drill for hitting.
Working eye / hand coordination.

Most important thing is don't hurry a drill where the mechanics break down. If you have 10 girls waiting, do less reps and make them quality swings



Straightleg

As long as you are focusing on slow and early, rhythm and a good sequence,

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I agree with this 'good sequence' is the key. If going to use this type of drill.

You would be better off to throw front toss and use the screen to protect yourself.

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I agree with this also and more because, I want any/all batting practice to simulate 'live' pitching. A batter isn't going to see a ball coming up from the ground, from behind, from the side nor is a batter going to see a ball coming down from above.
Not a knock on your drill. JMHO.

I use the drill. I don't need aboard. The ground here in Tucson is hard enough. I especially like to use the drill in a gymnasium. The purpose is to create different pitches, without having to throw them.