Hitting Drills

Difficulty Level: Medium

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 5 minutes

Equipment Required: Tee, baseballs, net or screen to hit into

Goal: Hit low line drives back up the middle, swing through the ball, stay athletic

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up slightly in front of the middle of the plate, shortened so that the ball rests at the bottom of the strike zone (knee level, shown below)
• Hitter sets up even with the plate, while other partner puts a ball on the tee
• Hitter hits the ball, trying to hit a low line drive back up the middle, swinging down and through and staying athletic
• Partners switch after 5 swings

Add Difficulty:

• To add a degree of difficulty, the hitter can move the tee to different contact points (inside, middle, outside) as shown for a right handed hitter below, but still make sure to keep the tee at the bottom of the strike zone.

Skill Set: Hitting

Difficulty Level: Medium

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 5 minutes

Equipment Required: Tee, baseballs, net or screen to hit into

Goal: Hit line drives back up the middle, stay on top of the ball versus under it

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up slightly in front of the middle of the plate, extended so that the ball rests at the top of the strike zone (chest level, shown below)
• Hitter sets up even with the plate, while other partner puts a ball on the tee
• Hitter hits the ball, trying to hit a line drive back up the middle, not popping it up
• Partners switch after 5 swings

Add Difficulty:

• To add a degree of difficulty, the hitter can move the tee to different contact points (inside, middle, outside) as shown for a right handed hitter below, but still make sure to keep the tee at the top of the strike zone.

Skill Set: Hitting

Difficulty Level: Hard

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 5 minutes

Equipment Required: Tee, baseballs, net or screen to hit into

Goal: Properly load the back hip without diverting energy too far into the back knee

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up in front of the middle of the plate
• Hitter sets up even with the plate, while partner places a ball on the tee
• A second tee is setup on an angle facing the back knee
• Focus is to not hit the angled tee with the back knee
• Objective is to properly load the back hip without diverting energy too far into the back knee
• Ideal for hitters that are not direct with their weight transfer and either spin off or get rounded in movements
• Partners switch after 5 swings

Add Difficulty: 

• To add a degree of difficulty, the hitter can also move the tee to different contact point heights (low, middle, high)

Skill Set: Hitting

Difficulty Level: Hard

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 10 minutes

Equipment Required: Screen for coach to throw behind, home plate, and a bucket of baseballs

Goal: Swing without the bat hitting the back net, hit the ball up the middle

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up in front of the middle of the plate
• Hitter sets up even with the plate
• Screen is set up behind the hitter, hitter stands as close to the net with their back foot as possible
• Objective is to be able to swing without the bat hitting the back net
• Focus is on proper weight transfer and path to ball
• Ideal drill for hitters that dump their barrel early or collapses their backside
• Partners switch after 10 swings

Add Difficulty:

• To add a degree of difficulty, the hitter can also move the tee to different contact point heights (low, middle, high)

Skill Set: Hitting

Difficulty Level: Medium

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 10 minutes

Equipment Required: Tee, baseballs, net or screen to hit into, 2x4” wooden beam (6 ft. long)

Goal: Focus on staying balanced through the entire swing and after the follow through

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up in front of the middle of the plate, balance beam placed where batter’s feet will go
• Hitter sets up even with the plate on the beam, while other partner puts a ball on the tee
• Hitter takes 5 half speed swings off of the tee to get more comfortable
• As the player becomes more comfortable, they should swing full speed
• Hitter should be focused on staying balanced throughout the entire swing and after the follow through
• Partners switch after 10 swings

Add Difficulty:

• To add a degree of difficulty, one of the partners can stand on the other side of the plate facing their partner and throw side toss for their partner to hit while still on the beam
• The partner can also throw front toss from behind a screen to their partner still on the beam
• The hitter can also move the tee to different contact points (inside, middle, outside) as shown for a right handed hitter below

Skill Set: Hitting

Difficulty Level: Easy

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 5 minutes

Equipment Required: Tee, baseballs, net or screen to hit into, (short bat can be used)

Goal: Hit line drives back up the middle, control barrel of the bat, keep shoulder closed

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up slightly in front of the middle of the plate
• Hitter sets up even with the plate, while other partner puts a ball on the tee
• Hitter gets ready, hold bat with the hand closest to the knob of the bat (bottom hand)
• Hitter places other hand (top hand) across chest on front shoulder to keep shoulder closed
• Swinging with one hand, the hitter tries to hit the ball on a line back up the middle
• If the bat is too heavy to control with one hand, the hitter may slide their hand up on the bat
• Partners switch after 5 swings
• A short 28” bat can also be used for this drill

Add Difficulty:

• To add a degree of difficulty, the hitter can move the tee to different contact points (inside, middle, outside) as shown for a right handed hitter below
• Hitters should hit outside pitches to the opposite field (or opposite side in a cage)
• Hitters should try to hit inside pitches back up the middle or a little to the pull side of the middle

Skill Set: Hitting

Difficulty Level: Easy

Number of Athletes and Coaches: 1-2 athletes and 1 coach, or 2 athletes as partners

Average Time to Complete: 5 minutes

Equipment Required: Tee, baseballs, net or screen to hit into (short bat can be used)

Goal: Hit line drives back up the middle, extend the swing through the zone

Description of the Drill:

• Tee set up slightly in front of the middle of the plate
• Hitter sets up even with the plate, while other partner puts a ball on the tee
• Hitter gets ready, hold bat with the hand closest to the barrel of the bat (top hand)
• Hitter places other hand (bottom hand) behind back or across chest on back shoulder
• Swinging with one hand, the hitter tries to hit the ball on a line back up the middle
• If the bat is too heavy to control with one hand, the hitter may slide their hand up on the bat
• Partners switch after 5 swings
• A short 28” bat can also be used for this drill

Add Difficulty:

• To add a degree of difficulty, the hitter can move the tee to different contact points (inside, middle, outside) as shown for a right handed hitter below
• Hitters should hit outside pitches to the opposite field (or opposite side in a cage)
• Hitters should try to hit inside pitches back up the middle or a little to the pull side of the middle