Hitting faultsandfixes114

Hitting Faults and Fixes |Page 1

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Contents

Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ 2

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Fault #1: Uppercutting or Dipping ................................................................................................................ 4

Drill #1: One Knee Drill .............................................................................................................................. 5

Drill #2: Hammer Drill ............................................................................................................................... 5

Drill #3: Tee Chair Drill .............................................................................................................................. 7

Fault #2: Stepping Out or Flying Out ............................................................................................................. 9

Drill #1: Ping Pong Paddle Drill .................................................................................................................. 9

Drill #2: Outside Soft Toss Drill ............................................................................................................... 11

Fault #3: Head Jumping (AKA "No Backside" Hitting) ................................................................................. 12

Drill #1: Attack Drill ................................................................................................................................. 13

Drill #2: Fast Ball/Curve Ball Bounce Drill ............................................................................................... 13

Drill #3: No Stride Batting Drill ................................................................................................................ 15

Drill #4: Stride-Backside-Hands Drill ....................................................................................................... 16

Drill #5: Medicine Ball Drill ...................................................................................................................... 17

Drill #6: Figure '8' Partner Drill ................................................................................................................ 18

Fault #4: Poor Ball Tracking ........................................................................................................................ 20

Drill #1: Pinto Bean Drill .......................................................................................................................... 20

Drill #2: Release Point Drill ...................................................................................................................... 21

Drill #3: Color Ball Drill ............................................................................................................................ 22

Drill #4: Hit or Get Hit Drill ...................................................................................................................... 23

Fault #5: Slow Bat ....................................................................................................................................... 25

Drill #1: Hard Toss Drill ............................................................................................................................ 25

Drill #2: Weighted Bat Swing Drill ........................................................................................................... 26

Drill #3: Isometric Swing Training ........................................................................................................... 27

Fault #6: Poor Hand Position at Contact ..................................................................................................... 30

Drill #1: Tee Challenge Drill ..................................................................................................................... 31

Drill #2: Soft Toss Challenge Drill ............................................................................................................ 32

Fault #7: Locking Out The Arms .................................................................................................................. 33



Drill #1: Fence Drills ................................................................................................................................ 33

Fault #8: Poor Balance ................................................................................................................................ 35

Drill #1: 2x4 Balance Drill ........................................................................................................................ 35

Final Thoughts ............................................................................................................................................. 37

More Coaching Resources .......................................................................................................................... 37



Introduction

Hitting a baseball is arguably one of the hardest techniques to master, in any sport.

Even after players learn and understand the basic mechanics of the swing, it's very common for

them to develop bad habits that hamper their hitting effectiveness.

As coaches, we need to be able to identify these bad habits, and make the necessary

mechanical adjustments to guarantee that player’s success.

And that's the purpose of this eBook. In the following pages, we will cover eight of the most

common hitting faults you will find at all levels of play. You will learn exactly what causes the

mistake, and how to correct it with simple, effective hitting drills that can be performed during

team batting practice, or private hitting workouts.

NOTE: If you would like to see all of these faults and fixes demonstrated on video with step by

step instructions, you can upgrade your package to include the Hitting Faults and Fixes Online

Video Clinic by going here:

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Ready to go? Let’s get started!

Fault #1: Uppercutting or Dipping

When you have a player that tends to be a fly ball

pop-up hitter, it is likely because he is uppercutting

or dipping.

This happens when a player drops or “dips” his back

shoulder too far back which allows the barrel of the

bat to drop down below his hands when hitting.

Swinging from this angle will cause the ball to pop-

up high into the air.

The following three drills will help players focus on

the proper posture and swinging techniques needed

to eliminate uppercutting and dipping when hitting.

Uppercutting or Dipping

Dipped Shoulder

Barrel below Hands

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Drill #1: One Knee Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to force a player into a more upright position when hitting. If the

player were to uppercut from this kneeling position he would lose his balance and fall

backwards. The kneeling position forces the hitter to swing in a more downward motion.

Setup:

The player will be in his batting stance with the back knee on the ground (on a soft surface). A

net will be set up to receive the batted balls. The coach will be soft-tossing him balls from the

side, approximately 10 feet away.

Execution:

1. The player drops down onto his right knee.

His left leg should be extended out straight

to keep his balance.

2. The coach will feed him soft toss pitches.

3. The player hits the ball into the net while

focusing on maintaining correct posture.

4. Complete 3 sets of 10 reps.

Coaching Tips:

This is a high repetition drill so have as many balls as possible sitting next to you.

The goal is to develop a muscle memory pattern to eliminate uppercutting or dipping.

Drill #2: Hammer Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to create the proper hand action down to the ball. The player will try

to cut the bat downward (like chopping a tree), forcing the ball into the ground, instead of

cutting the bat upward and the ball high into the air (uppercutting).

One Knee Drill



Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net. The coach will be soft-tossing him balls

from the side, approximately 10 feet away.

Execution:

Part 1 – Top Hand Only

1. The hitter stands in a Ready Position while holding the bat with his top hand only.

His bottom (left) arm should be held across his chest throughout this part of the drill.

2. The coach feeds him a soft toss.

3. The player cuts the bat downward, hitting the ball and driving it into the ground.

4. Complete 2 sets of 5 reps

Part 2 – Bottom Hand Only

1. The hitter stands in a Ready Position while holding the bat with his bottom hand only.

His top (right) arm should be held behind his back throughout this part of the drill.




Hammer Drill – Top Hand Only



Part 3 – Both Hands

1. The hitter stands in a Ready Position with both hands on the bat.




Coaching Tips:

This is called the Hammer Drill because the player is “hammering” the ball into the ground.

Emphasize the hands coming down to hit and driving the ball into the ground. This motion

is the opposite of uppercutting,

Drill #3: Tee Chair Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to force the player to use a downward swing by placing a chair in

front of a tee. If the player were to use an uppercut swing during this drill, his bat would hit the

back of the chair.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net. Place a chair facing the backstop, so the

backrest is lined up with the hitter's front hip. Place a batting tee roughly 12 inches in front of

Hammer Drill – Bottom Hand Only



the chair, lined up with the hitters front foot. The coach will be standing close by to replace

balls.

Execution:

1. The player swings at the ball on the tee with a slight downward motion in order to avoid

hitting the chair.

2. The coach replaces the ball on the tee and the player repeats the swing.


Coaching Tips:

Again, this is a high repetition drill so have as many balls as possible sitting next to you.

The more often the correct motion is practiced, the more quickly the player will develop

proper muscle memory.

Tee Chair Drill



Stepping Out

Stride Foot in Open Position

Flying Out

Head and Shoulder Opening Too Far

Fault #2: Stepping Out or Flying Out

Stepping out occurs when a hitter’s first reaction to the ball

being thrown is to step their stride foot out into an open

position (ie. pointing the toe toward the pitcher).

Stepping out and opening up that foot forces the rest of the

body, including the lead elbow and shoulder, to open up as

well. This begins the hip turn prematurely, leaking power

out of the swing, and also makes it very difficult to cover the

outside half of the plate.

Flying out is when a player’s shoulder and head open up too

far when he swings.

Moving the head during the swing makes it much more

difficult to track the incoming pitch. And, like stepping out,

this action will limit the hitter's plate coverage. We often see

a player stepping out, which then causes flying out as well.

Fixing both of these issues comes down to stride foot

placement. When the hitter's stride foot lands, it should stay

semi-closed - with the toes pointing at an angle

towards first base (not at the pitcher)

The following two drills will help reinforce the

important mechanical adjustment.

Drill #1: Ping Pong Paddle Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to force the player to

keep his front elbow and shoulder locked into the hitting zone during the stride and swing.

Correct Form: Stride Foot Semi-Closed

Incorrect Form: Stride Foot Opened to

the Pitcher



Using a ping pong paddle instead of a bat will reinforce the required movement. The paddle is

so short, and the hitting surface so small, that it's almost impossible to make contact if the

hitter opens up prematurely on the pitch.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net or fence. The coach will be soft-tossing him

whiffle balls from the side, approximately 10 feet away. A ping pong paddle and whiffle balls

are required.

Execution:

1. The player will stand in the Ready Position holding the ping pong paddle with his front arm.

2. The coach uses an underhand throw to toss whiffle balls to the player.

3. The player keeps his elbow and shoulder close to his body, within the hitting zone, and hits

the whiffle ball.


Coaching Tips:

If you have a player who is having a hard time making contact during this drill it is because

he is flying out. Remind him to keep his elbow tight to the body until contact (see middle

picture above.

Ping Pong Paddle Drill



Drill #2: Outside Soft Toss Drill

Purpose:

The focus of this drill is to work on the outside pitch. This is often a weakness for hitters who

fly out or step out.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net. The coach will be soft-tossing him whiffle

balls from the side, approximately 10 feet away. Balls, a bat and net are required. A tee is

optional.

Execution:

1. The hitter is in a Ready Position with both hands on the bat.

2. The coach feeds him a soft toss to a position that simulates

an outside pitch (the outer third of the plate).

3. The player hits the ball into the net.


Optional Variation:

1. Set a tee to an outside pitch position.

2. The player hits the ball, driving it toward right field. This will

be impossible for him to hit if his head or shoulder flies out.

3. The coach replaces the ball on the tee.

Coaching Tips:

This drill forces a player to wait for the ball to get to him and keep his shoulder in the hitting

zone.

Remind players to keep their stride foot semi-closed as they approach the ball.

Soft Toss Drill - Where to Feed Ball to Simulate an Outside Pitch

Soft Toss Drill with Tee



Fault #3: Head Jumping (AKA "No Backside" Hitting)

Some hitters have a tendency to move their head forward as they swing. We call these hitters

“head jumpers.”

When a player's head moves forward, it becomes very difficult to recruit the hips, quads and

core to generate power, resulting in a weak, arms-only swing. We also call these players “no

backside hitters.”

Compounding the problem, the head movement will also make fastballs look faster and off-

speed pitches appear to break even more sharply.

A quick way to determine if a hitter is "head jumping" is to get a him into his stance, stand

beside him, then hold up your hand showing his head positioning before the swing.

Keep your hand steady while he swings, then tell him to freeze. Use your other hand to

demonstrate where his head position is after the swing and the distance he has moved.

To fix this hitting fault, we want to isolate the head, keeping it still so when the hitter strides, he

is not moving forward.

Focus on creating a strong backside force by driving the back hip into the ball and getting

proper rotation off of the back foot.

The following six drills will effectively force a player to utilize his backside strength while

keeping his head in a proper position.

Head Position Before Swing Head Position After Head Jumping

Difference in Positions



Drill #1: Attack Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to encourage the player to keep his head back and explode the hips.

Setup:



Execution:

1. The hitter stands in a Ready Position with both hands on the

bat.

2. The coach feeds him a slow, looping, soft toss pitch.

3. The player waits to hit the ball until the last possible second,

then yells “Attack!” and hits the ball with explosive movement.


Coaching Tips:

If your player continues to struggle to keep his head back, use the same head position

demonstration outlined above

Hold up your hand and ask him to keep his head lined up with your hand throughout his

entire swing. He will be able to see the ball better and utilize the added power of his back

side.

Drill #2: Fast Ball/Curve Ball Bounce Drill

Purpose:

Head jumping often occurs when players misjudge an off speed pitch, causing them to lean out

in front of it and lose their backside power. This is a great drill to help with pitch recognition,

timing, and rhythm.

Rotate Back Foot and Drive Back Leg into the Ball



Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net. The coach will be standing off to the side

with a bucket of tennis balls.

Execution:

1. The hitter stands in a Ready Position.

2. The coach holds a tennis ball at head height and drops it straight down. At the same time as

the release, he calls either “fastball” or “curve ball.”

3. The player hits the tennis ball based on the call.

i. On fastballs, the player will let the ball hit the ground, then make contact as it bounces

up through the strike zone (before it begins to fall back down).

ii. On curveballs, the player will let the ball hit the ground, bounce up, then begin to fall

back down. He will stay loaded and wait to trigger his swing until the ball is dropping

back through the strike zone.

Fastball Contact Point Curveball Contact Point Fastball/ Curveball Bounce Drill



Drill #3: No Stride Batting Drill

Purpose:

This drill removes the stride from the swing sequence, to help a hitter concentrate on staying

back and avoiding the head jump.

Setup:



Execution:

1. The hitter stands with his feet wider than shoulder width apart.

2. The coach tosses a soft pitch.

3. The player keeps his front foot in place and rotates his backside as he hits the ball. The back

quadriceps should be driving into the ball.


No Stride Batting Drill



Coaching Tips:

Some coaches find it helpful to emphasize a strong rotation of the back foot by telling the

player to “squash the bug.” This can be a useful coaching tip, but be careful! The purpose

of the back foot rotation is to rotate the entire back side and generate power from the hips.

Make sure the hitter is not simply rotating the back foot in place, without transferring

power up through the back leg and into the hips.

As soon as you see a player “head jumping,” have him practice 20 repetitions of the no-

stride drill before returning to normal batting.

Drill #4: Stride-Backside-Hands Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to build a slow motion progression of the hitting sequence in order to

separate the components and build muscle memory through repetition.

Setup:



Execution:

1. The hitter stands in the Ready Position.

2. The coach calls “stride.”The player steps out with his stride foot.

3. The coach calls “backside.” The player rotates this back leg.

4. The coach calls “hands” as he tosses the ball. The player hits the ball.




Coaching Tips:

Building muscle memory requires repetition. Practice this drill over and over again to teach

the brain and body the importance of a strong backside in hitting.

When a player hears the words “stride, backside, hands” in combination with performing

the movements, he will develop muscle memory faster than just performing the

movements.

Drill #5: Medicine Ball Drill

Purpose:

This is another slow motion progression of the hitting sequence. But this time, we will use a

medicine ball instead of a bat, to provide more resistance and build hip strength.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance holding a 10-15 lb medicine ball at his right shoulder. The

coach will be standing roughly 10 feet away, ready to receive the pass.

Execution:

1. The hitter stands holding the medicine ball.

2. The coach calls “stride.” The player steps out with his stride foot.

Ready Stride Backside Hands



3. The coach calls “backside.” The player rotates this back leg.

4. The coach calls “hands.”The player explodes from the hips and thrusts the medicine ball to

the coach.

Coaching Tips:

The ball should be propelled forward using the right hand (for right handed hitters). The left

hand is there primarily for guidance, not for use in the final thrust.

This is a great strength training drill for players who have a weak backside. A heavier or

lighter medicine ball can be used depending on a player’s age and strength.

Drill #6: Figure '8' Partner Drill

Purpose:

Develop core strength and flexibility, enabling the hitter to explode through the hips and

generate more power from the back side.

Setup:

Two players stand back to back, with their heels roughly 18 inches apart. One player is holding a

10-15 lb medicine ball at belt level.

Ready Stride Backside Hands



Execution:

1. Both players rotate clockwise at the hips and shoulders to face each other, while keeping

their feet pointed straight ahead.

2. Player 1 quickly hands the ball off to Player 2.

3. After the handoff, both players rotate back in the opposite direction (counter clockwise) and

complete another handoff, this time from Player 2 to Player 1.

4. Complete 3 sets of 15 handoffs, rotating back and forth each time so the ball moves in a

figure 8 pattern.

Coaching Tips Focus on keeping the shoulders square and the back straight. Do not hunch over or bend at the

waist during the handoff.

Start slow, and focus on technique, rather than speed. As the players become more comfortable,

speed up the drill and try to get each player to "snap" the ball into his partners hands with explosive

force.

Figure ‘8’ Partner Drill



Fault #4: Poor Ball Tracking

Visually tracking a ball can be difficult for some players, yet it is key to becoming a successful

hitter. A hitter must keep his eye on the ball at all times in order to:

Determine the type of pitch that is being thrown.

Decide whether to swing or not.

Watch the ball meet the bat - to hit it squarely and in the right direction.

The following four tracking drills will focus on tracking a tiny object, practicing pitch

identification, seeing the ball as it hits the bat, and hitting to the opposite field.

Drill #1: Pinto Bean Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to exercise a hitter’s eyesight, tracking, and hand-eye coordination.

The player’s brain must identify a tiny object and track it through the air, all the way to contact.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance. The coach will be pitching to him from straight on,

roughly 15 feet away. The coach will need a bucket of pinto beans for this drill.

Execution:


2. The coach tosses a pinto bean into the strike zone.

3. The player swings and hits the pinto bean.


Coaching Tips:

Wear sunglasses or other protective eye wear as the pinto beans can fly back at your face.

Pinto Bean Drill



After completing numerous repetitions of this drill, tracking and hitting a tiny object, a

baseball will look huge in comparison!

Drill #2: Release Point Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to help hitters focus on the pitcher’s release point and identify what

pitch is coming. This is a great tracking drill.

Setup:

This drill can be performed by multiple players standing anywhere on the field. Each player will

have a bat, and require 5-10 feet of space on all sides. The coach stands 20 feet away facing

the players.

Execution (Part 1):

1. The players stand in the Ready Position.

2. The coach will go through his windup and simulate a pitch

(without holding a ball). At the release point, he freezes and

holds up between 1 – 5 fingers.

3. The players will call out the number of fingers the coach is

holding up as soon as they can identify them.

4. Complete 1 set of 10 reps, varying the number of fingers

throughout.

Execution (Part 2):

1. The players stand in the Ready Position.

2. The coach will go through his windup and simulate a pitch (without holding a ball). At the

release point, he freezes and shows the hitters the grip he is using. He will alternate between

fastball (4-seam and 2-seam), changeup, curve ball and split finger grips.

Release Point Drill



3. The players will call out the type of ball the coach is “throwing” as soon as they identify his

grip.

4. Complete 2 sets of 10 reps, varying the grip throughout.

Coaching Tips:

This drill helps hitters quickly identify the type of ball that is coming so that they can adjust

their swing timing accordingly.

Start with part one of this drill and move on to part two once the hitters quickly and

accurately identify the number of fingers you are holding. Identifying pitching grips will be a

lot more difficult.

Drill #3: Color Ball Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to help the hitter "fine focus" on the baseball

right up to the point he makes contact.

Setup:

For this drill, you will need one or more "colored" training baseballs.

You can buy these from sporting goods retailers for roughly $5, or

make your own by using a magic marker to fill each quadrant of the

baseball with a distinct color.

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net. The coach will be soft-tossing him the

colored balls from the side, approximately 10 feet away.

Execution:


2. The coach tosses him the colored ball.

Colored Training Baseball



3. The player calls out the last color he sees as his bat makes contact with the ball. (Ex.

“Blue!”)

4. If his head is flying out he will not be able to identify the color.

Coaching Tips:

Unfortunately this drill isn’t effective for hitters who are color blind. Find out which colors a

hitter does see well and create a ball for that player.

Make sure your player keeps his head in position and tracks the ball all the way into the

hitting zone.

Drill #4: Hit or Get Hit Drill

Purpose:

The drill works on hitting a ball to the opposite field. To get a ball to the opposite field, a player

must let the ball get deep before swinging. This is hard for some players as they naturally want

to swing early.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing a net. The coach will be overhand tossing him

tennis balls from the side, approximately 10 feet away.

Execution:


2. The coach tosses a tennis ball, aiming for the hitter’s bellybutton or belt area.

3. The hitter swings and hits the ball. He must stay back and wait for the ball to get deep. If he

tries to swing early, he will get hit by the ball.



Coaching Tips:

Your player may have a hard time hitting the ball until he gets into a rhythm. He will get hit

by the ball if he does not hit it, so use tennis balls or whiffle balls for this drill.

Patience is the key to letting the ball get deep before hitting. Tell your hitter to imagine he

is hitting the ball right out of the catcher’s glove.

Hit or Get Hit Drill



Fault #5: Slow Bat

When a player consistently has a slow reaction time to the pitch, we call that a “slow bat.” This

fault is really noticeable when the hitter is up against a hard throwing pitcher.

The following three drills will help a player develop quicker hands, hips and overall reaction

time to the ball through strength training, isometric training and cage work.

Drill #1: Hard Toss Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to improve reaction time against a fast throwing pitcher.

Setup:

If you have access to a batting cage with enclosed sides and a pitching screen, use it for this

drill. The hitter sets up in his batting stance facing the coach. The coach stands behind a

pitching screen roughly 30 feet away with a bucket of balls.

Execution:


2. The coach throws medium-speed fastballs to the hitter.

3. The hitter uses a quick reaction time to hit the ball

squarely.


Coaching Tips:

Increase the speed of the fastballs once the hitter gets the hang of the drill.

Once the hitter is consistently hitting the hard balls well, begin switching up hard and soft

throws.

Hard Toss Drill



Always step behind a protective screen after pitching.

Drill #2: Weighted Bat Swing Drill

Purpose:

This drill uses weight plates to add strength and quickness to a hitter’s swing. Begin with a 2.5

or 5 pound plate. Depending on the hitter’s age and strength, he can eventually move up to a

10 pound plate.

Setup:

The hitter is standing anywhere on the field. The coach should be standing at a safe distance

nearby to supervise. A bat and weight plate are required.

Execution:

1. The hitter stands in the Ready Position with a weight plate on his bat.

2. Complete 3 sets of 10 swings.

Weighted Bat Swing Drill



Coaching Tips:

Use common sense to make sure the weight plates are handled safely. Make sure they will

not fly off the barrel of the bat during the swing.

The hitter should not be swinging hard. Focus on a nice, fluid swing.

Players should progress very slowly when increasing weight.

Always supervise this drill to ensure that players are using proper mechanics. This drill can

lead to injury if not performed correctly.

This drill should only be used during the off season or preseason to increase strength and

muscle memory. It may cause too much muscle fatigue during the regular season.

Drill #3: Isometric Swing Training

Purpose:

Isometrics are a type of strength training in which the joint angle and muscle length do not

change during contraction.

Isometrics are done in static positions, rather than being dynamic through a range of motion.

The purpose of this drill is to isolate specific muscles that are used during the swing and

develop a quicker bat. We will go through three drills, covering the inside (pull hitting) pitch,

down the middle pitch, and outside (opposite field) pitch.

Setup:

The hitter stands in his batting stance in front of a fence pole or similar object.



Inside Pitch

1. The hitter will set up in his stance with the front foot

roughly 12 inches behind the fence post.

2. He extends his arms in a position where he would make

contact with the inside pitch - out in front of the plate

(as shown in the image to the right)

3. On the coaches signal, he pushes against the fence with

as much force as he can muster, keeping the arms fully

extended, the head down, and the lower body in an

athletic position.

4. Complete 3 sets of 30-45 seconds. Then take a short break before moving on to the next

phase.

Down the Middle Pitch


lined up with the fence post.


contact with a down the middle pitch - in the middle of

the plate and lined up with his front foot (as shown in

the image to the right)



extended, the head down, and the lower body in an

athletic position.

4. Complete 3 sets of 30-45 seconds. Then take a short break before moving on to the next

phase.

Inside Pitch – Isometric Drill

Down the Middle Pitch – Isometric Drill



Opposite Field Pitch


roughly 6 inches in front of the fence post.


contact with an outside pitch - deep in the strike zone

and lined up with his back hip. (as shown in the image

to the right)



extended, the head down, and the lower body in an athletic position.

4. Complete 3 sets of 30-45 seconds.

Coaching Tips:

This drill requires a lot of focus and concentration, and can be strenuous on the hitter's

energy system. Allow adequate rest between each

set so the hitter can attack the exercise with 100%

intensity each time.

Take this opportunity to teach the concept of the

"line of hitting" or "ideal contact points." Inside

pitches should struck at the front of the plate,

middle pitches at in the middle of the plate, and

outside pitches in the back half of the plate.

Position the hitter in the appropriate spot relative

to the fence post, so he can simulate those ideal

contact points in each phase of the drill.

These isometric exercises can easily be performed during practice or at home. All you need

is a bat and a pole!

Opposite Field Pitch – Isometric Drill



Fault #6: Poor Hand Position at Contact

Improper hand positioning at the point of contact is a common hitting fault. If a hitter is

producing too many ground balls or pop ups he may need to correct his hand positioning.

Incorrect Positioning

Some hitters have a tendency to tilt their palms in a diagonal direction.

This leads to uppercutting because the barrel of the bat drops below their hands, and results in

weak pop flies.

Other players tend to bring their top hand over too soon. This raises the barrel of the bat up

over the ball, and results in weak ground balls.

Correct Positioning

A player should focus on keeping a “palm up, palm down” or “push/pull” position at the point

of contact.

This means that the bat is parallel to the ground and the top hand palm is facing straight up and

the bottom hand palm is facing straight down.



Drill #1: Tee Challenge Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to hit the ball off of the tee into the hole of a sock net. This is

challenging the player to hit to a very specific location.

If the player is using a proper “palm up, palm down” hand position he should be able to hit a

line drive right into the hole of the net.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his stance, facing a net roughly 15-20 feet away.

Ideally, you should use a sock net that will provide a

target for the hit ball. Otherwise, use masking tape

or paint to mark a target into a standard net.

Place a tee in front of the hitter with a ball teed up.

Execution:

1. The hitter stands in the Ready Position next to

the tee.

2. The hitter focuses on hitting the ball into the target with squared shoulders and a “palm up,

palm down” positioning at contact.

3. The coach or a partner replaces the ball on the tee.


Coaching Tips:

If the hitter is pulling the ball toward the third base side, he may be pulling his front

shoulder out.

If he is hitting too far toward first base, he is probably letting his hands drop too far.

Tee Challenge Drill



Soft Toss Challenge Drill

Drill #2: Soft Toss Challenge Drill

Purpose:

Once a player has mastered the Tee Challenge Drill, he can move on to the Soft Toss Challenge.

This drill continues to focus on hand positioning and hitting line drives, but utilizes live pitches

instead of a tee.

Setup:

The hitter sets up in his stance facing a net roughly 15-20 feet away.

Ideally, use a sock net that will provide a target for

the hit ball. Otherwise, use masking tape or paint

to mark a target into a standard net.

The coach will be soft-tossing him balls from the

side, approximately 10 feet away.

Execution:


2. The coach feeds the player soft toss balls.

3. The player focuses on hitting the ball into the hole with squared shoulders and a “palm up,

palm down” positioning at contact.


Coaching Tips:

Mastering this drill will create more solid contact, more line drives and more base hits.

Players usually like this drill because it can be a challenge to get the ball into the hole. Keep

score to create a friendly competition between players.



Fault #7: Locking Out The Arms

The arms are a vital part of a player’s swing. They can help you

get to a ball quicker to hit an inside fastball or make adjustments

for an off-speed pitch.

A common arm fault is locking out. This means that the player

has extended his front arm straight and locked his elbow. This

creates a “sweeping swing” which results in a slow bat and

difficulty in hitting an inside pitch.

The front arm should have a slight bend in the elbow during the

swing and the hands should stay inside the ball. The following

fence drills will help the player keep his arm loose to get to the inside fastball.

Drill #1: Fence Drills

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to maintain proper arm positioning throughout the swing. If his arm

is in the proper position, the bat should barely graze the fence. If the player begins to lock out

his arm or "cast" the bat out too widely, the bat will hit the fence hard.

Setup:

The hitter will be performing slow motion swings while standing adjacent to a fence.

Facing the Fence

1. The hitter sets up in his stance with his toes facing the fence, roughly 18-24 inches away.

2. The hitter goes through his swing sequence in very slow motion. He will avoid striking the

fence with his bat by keeping the front elbow slightly bent and hands inside the ball.

3. Complete 2 sets of 5 slow motion swings, then 2 sets of 5 full speed swings.

Arm Locked Out



Fence to the Back

1. The hitter sets up in his stance with the fence off his back

elbow (where the catcher would normally be positioned)

4. The hitter goes through his swing sequence in very slow

motion. He will avoid striking the fence with his bat by

keeping the front elbow slightly bent and hands inside the

ball.

5. Complete 2 sets of 5 slow motion swings, then 2 sets of 5

full speed swings.

Coaching Tips:

Locking out the arm creates a very slow bat.

If the bat is hitting the fence during the full speed swings, have the player go back to slow

motion swings to build muscle memory.

Fence Drill – Fence to the Back

Fence Drill – Facing the Fence



Fault #8: Poor Balance

Proper body balance is essential to become a successful hitter. Some players have a tendency

to dive into the plate or away from the plate during the swing, which leaks power, and makes it

difficult to make mid-pitch adjustments.

The following drill will help players improve their balance at the plate, have better quality at-

bats, and make more consistent contact.

Drill #1: 2x4 Balance Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of this drill is to practice balance and holding a straight stride. The player will

balance on a 2x4 while hitting balls.

Setup:

Place a 2x4 piece of wood, roughly 5-6 feet long on the ground inside the batter's box. The

hitter will stand on top the wood and assume his stance, facing a net. The coach will be soft-

tossing him balls from the side, approximately 10 feet away.

Execution:


2. The coach feeds the hitter a soft toss.

Soft Toss Balance Drill



3. The hitter strides and swings with a fluid motion into the ball while maintaining proper body

balance on the 2x4.


Coaching Tips:

If the player has poor balance and tends to “dive into” the ball, he will fall forward off of the

2x4 after he swings.

If you have a player that tends to uppercut, he will fall backward off of the 2x4 after he

swings.



Final Thoughts

We have covered eight different hitting faults that you may encounter with your players. As

you can see, there are many effective drills you can use to correct these faults.

Improper hitting techniques not only affect the number of quality at-bats a player has, but they

also put the player at risk of injury. These tools and techniques can benefit every baseball

program regardless of age or skill level.

Good coaching, proper mechanics and lots of practice will ensure

your hitter's success!

More Coaching Resources

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