WARRIORMIKE
Pro-Staff Everything
Does anyone use tennis balls for fielding or hitting drills?? If so what drills do you like to use them for??
Tennis Balls
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I don't usually but I have seen them used the following ways.
1. On tees. A ball is a ball.
2. Bare hand outfield work to get proper catching technique.
3. Outfield fly balls with glove often hit with a tennis racket; bad technique will generally bounce out of the glove.
4. Rise ball hitting practice. Tennis balls bounce.
1. On tees. A ball is a ball.
2. Bare hand outfield work to get proper catching technique.
3. Outfield fly balls with glove often hit with a tennis racket; bad technique will generally bounce out of the glove.
4. Rise ball hitting practice. Tennis balls bounce.
- Apr 13, 2013
- 264
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I hit them all the time to 11 YO DD.
She has benn teased about it but quess how is the best OF.
She has benn teased about it but quess how is the best OF.
WARRIORMIKE
Pro-Staff Everything
We use then a lot for hitting and reaction on fielding with bare hands. I like them cause they bounce a lot makes the gurlz move a bit more, plus it doesn't sting the hands.
I also like to use them for "how to practice getting hit at the plate" I will actually hit the girls with the tennis balls and work with them if they get by a pitch, where they should position the bat and how to react to it. That's always a fun one. I was just hunting for more ideas...........
I also like to use them for "how to practice getting hit at the plate" I will actually hit the girls with the tennis balls and work with them if they get by a pitch, where they should position the bat and how to react to it. That's always a fun one. I was just hunting for more ideas...........
Seeing as how I am a tennis player, I've used them with both of my kids - mostly when they were younger. I could really rocket ground balls and hit high pop ups. The kids didn't have to be afraid because a tennis ball won't hurt you (even if you get hit in the neck with an overhead smash - well maybe it stings a little ha ha) I used to do this as a little league helper way back when the kids were 8 - now I have high school boys coming up to me saying "hey! We remember when you used to hit us tennis balls"
We'd put three of them in the outfield and hit a tennis ball in between them so they could practice calling for it. This drill had mixed results - it worked, but then the boys would get silly and basically play "tackle keep-away" and see who could come up with the ball. I think that's the drill the HS boys remember so fondly
We'd put three of them in the outfield and hit a tennis ball in between them so they could practice calling for it. This drill had mixed results - it worked, but then the boys would get silly and basically play "tackle keep-away" and see who could come up with the ball. I think that's the drill the HS boys remember so fondly
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1. Used for one hand hitting drills off a T.
2. Outfield drills since we hit them with a tennis racket indoors or outdoors. They tend to drift and harder to catch( need soft hands)
3. A college drill for infield. Stand infront of a mat,wall,net. We stand roughly 10 feet in front of them and they have to field them as fast and we bounce them in with a glove on. All they have time for is to catch and release.
2. Outfield drills since we hit them with a tennis racket indoors or outdoors. They tend to drift and harder to catch( need soft hands)
3. A college drill for infield. Stand infront of a mat,wall,net. We stand roughly 10 feet in front of them and they have to field them as fast and we bounce them in with a glove on. All they have time for is to catch and release.
I use tennis balls alot with hitting for my DD. We hit about 40 tennis balls everytime we hit in the backyard. I bounce the tennis balls to her from front toss to teach her to wait on the bounce and to pull the trigger, like waiting on a change up. I bounce them to her from the side and even behind. Behind is hard because I dont let her look at me, just face forward and wait for the ball to show up. I tell her to hit it at the top of the bounce. So it develops quickness to the ball and patience.
Important thing with my DD is just pulling the trigger at the right time, same swing every time, adjust to inside or outside.
Important thing with my DD is just pulling the trigger at the right time, same swing every time, adjust to inside or outside.
packhand. Bustos drill might help. She can do it without you present. If you have a concrete area. CB does this drill. Hold the ball out with one hand around head height. Drop it and hit it after it bounces up from the concrete. It will bounce different each time and it will teach her patience.
I use them for outfield practice. They fly about 100 - 125' when used with the little blue mechanical pitching machine that is popular with leagues that have machine pitch for boys. That happens to be a good distance for training 10U outfielders, and the machine takes some of the variables out which isn't necessarily a bad thing with younger girls.
The tennis balls are bouncy and hard to catch .... they reward good technique .... and most importantly, the girls are not afraid of them. Great use of tennis balls!
The tennis balls are bouncy and hard to catch .... they reward good technique .... and most importantly, the girls are not afraid of them. Great use of tennis balls!
