Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
I've yet to see this drill performed without negatively impacting a hitter's mechanics.
Example ...
Let's say the first plate is at 43ft away from the machine and set to 54mph.
The next plate is at 38ft away from the machine and giving a reaction time roughly equivalent to 61mph.
The next plate is at 33ft away from the machine and giving a reaction time roughly equivalent to 70mph.
The next plate is at 28ft away from the machine and giving a reaction time roughly equivalent to 83mph.
Every time I've seen this performed, the mechanics during the "reading of the pitch" are negatively impacted. The portion of the sequence that must not be rushed in order to develop solid sequencing, end up being rushed. Timing mechanics become negatively impacted.
It can be a fun game ... kids may enjoy it ... just haven't seen anyone's mechanics improved from this 'drill'.
Anybody can do any drill wrong or counterproductively! It isn't that difficult to figure out ways to make this particular drill productive and beneficial. I'm more than happy risking 10 bad swings as a litmus test to evaluate at what speed/distance a hitter's mechanics do breakdown and then work near that knife edge to help the hitter get comfortable at progressively faster speeds.