Purposely mixing in balls during front toss

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Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
I throw a bucket of front-toss where if it is hittable, then DD tries to hit it. After that, we do a series of simulated at-bats with a 1-1 count. Whether she swings is dependent on the count and where the ball is in her "hitting zone". Special emphasis is placed on hitting the ball where it is pitched...inside, outside...wherever. We usually do this on a ball field, and I score the hit. Pop-ups and weaker grounders are automatic "outs". Any line drive and hard grounder up the middle is a hit, and a well hit fly ball usually gets the benefit of the doubt unless it's hit directly to where an outfielder would be standing. We work on getting a certain number of "hits" before a given number of "outs". It tends to focus her better than mindlessly hitting ball after ball.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
8U I was AC.

Rules were player pitch with machine backup.

One day HC informed me that we hit a lot better off machine so we should stop swinging against live pitcher. I told him that he was absolutely right and being HC he could what he wanted and I would support him but my DD was going to swing at any ball that was in the same zip code as the field.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
I throw a bucket of front-toss where if it is hittable, then DD tries to hit it. After that, we do a series of simulated at-bats with a 1-1 count. Whether she swings is dependent on the count and where the ball is in her "hitting zone". Special emphasis is placed on hitting the ball where it is pitched...inside, outside...wherever. We usually do this on a ball field, and I score the hit. Pop-ups and weaker grounders are automatic "outs". Any line drive and hard grounder up the middle is a hit, and a well hit fly ball usually gets the benefit of the doubt unless it's hit directly to where an outfielder would be standing. We work on getting a certain number of "hits" before a given number of "outs". It tends to focus her better than mindlessly hitting ball after ball.

Sounds like fun. Also sounds a lot like the 2 on 2 pickup games I used to play as a kid, minus the arguments, huge bad-hop inducing rocks on the field and drinks from the hose at the cemetery near the field :p
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
8U I was AC.

Rules were player pitch with machine backup.

One day HC informed me that we hit a lot better off machine so we should stop swinging against live pitcher. I told him that he was absolutely right and being HC he could what he wanted and I would support him but my DD was going to swing at any ball that was in the same zip code as the field.

DD played 8U machine pitch only when she was 6 and the summer before she turned 8 (last summer). All of the kids on her 10U team (minus 1 I think who played coach pitch) also played machine pitch at 8U. Going from the certainty of a strike every time to the uncertainty of kid pitch probably doesn't help with the transition....
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Sounds like fun. Also sounds a lot like the 2 on 2 pickup games I used to play as a kid, minus the arguments, huge bad-hop inducing rocks on the field and drinks from the hose at the cemetery near the field :p

Or even 1-1 whiffle ball games in the back yard. However, there are occasionally arguments! I'm becoming more unforgiving of pulled outside pitches, even if they are hit well.
 
May 16, 2016
946
93
Agree with #7sDad, it's a mindset.

In 14u, most pitchers are throwing mostly fastballs... many of which are down the fat part of the plate. It should be like batting practice every at bat. Walks are not bad, but they should be viewed as a missed opportunity to HIT THE BALL!
 
Nov 18, 2015
1,585
113
We ended practice last night with a simple "hit until you miss" game. My daughter swung and missed on a pitch that was probably at the knees (I was pitching, so not the best perspective). Something clicked for me, as I finally realized "she can't hit the low pitch...". Next two or three rounds, I announced "get ready for a low pitch", and (to my surprise), hit my spot with the pitch, and got the same swing and miss result. So I think my point is even if you don't mix pitches, there's plenty of "learning" still to be had, even if you stay within the strike zone.
 
Dec 11, 2010
4,713
113
I am a front toss geek. And I am a big believer in practicing hitting good pitches and I’m a believer in the practice of hitting good pitches.

I think it’s not only important to see non-strikes and there is benefit to seeing REALLY bad pitches. Especially if they are making bad strike zone decisions. Make it EASY TO DECIDE: a grooved down the middle strike then a ball completely off the plate or in the dirt or over their head... Alternate between perfect pitches and really bad pitches. I saw this in the training info for the V-Flex pitch recognition nets. I have come to believe it. Go check out their website, it is front toss geek heaven. And btw I see those funny looking nets all over the place at colleges that really seem to hit the ball hard.

I never scold for swinging at bad pitches. Don’t bring negativity into a decision that already stresses them. Try and find something that is more neutral. “Hey, that’s a tough pitch to hit hard”, “Hey I promise I will give you a better pitch to hit than that”, etc., always smiling, kidding, ribbing. And when they hit a bad pitch hard I always say “hey that was off the plate but you hit it hard” so they know if they make a mistake it still might have a good result. And when they “take” a pitch that is a ball, tell them “good take” and reinforce the good decision. When hitters have more confidence in their decision making their decisions get better.

I truly believe if you tell hitters “don’t swing at that” it causes indecision which leads to bad decisions.
 
Last edited:
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
Not to hitters just starting out, but I definitely mix in some bad pitches. You can quickly spot kids who are just not picking up the ball. I'll usually do one change up a buckets but usually to the best hitters. Kids need to be aggressive, but if you are willing to swing at garbage pitches a good pitcher and coach will give you plenty of those. I do like to work in some counts to get them thinking when they are up to bat.
 

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