Timing Drills

Looking for some timing drills to work on over the winter. Such as identifying change up, tracking pitches, etc.

I like to add changeup work to front-toss. I do it very simply, about twenty feet in front sitting on a bucket behind a screen. "Fastball" is regular speed toss. "Changeup" has regular speed motion but adds an arc on release. You should sell it as a fastball and release it as a changeup.

The important thing is talking to the hitter about the mechanics to hit the change. IMO that involves extra stretch and "sitting" as they identify and wait on the change, leaving them something to swing with. No reload, just continued streeeettttccch, sit on it, hands continue to load up and back.....waiiiittt/strettccch....and then swing. Ideally they'll hit line drives up the middle or even better opposite on the changeups ensuring a good inside bat path. If they pull every changeup then the mechanic isn't quite right yet.

I start with fastballs which I identify, then changeups I identify while working on their mechanics. Then we switch between the two, with them knowing which one is coming. Fastball, change, fastball, change, etc. Finally I mix fastballs and changesups up with no advance notice and they really have to start to understand how to sit fastball and stretch/wait for changeups.

Thanks will give it a try this week.