How Coaches Can Make the Most of Batting Practice

A. Precede batting practice with some batting tee and hitting drills. Coaches should vary the drills from time to time and gear the drills towards the needs of the hitters when possible. This will serve as good warm-up time and keep the players focused on improving. It is important that coaches supervise this drill work so hitters are concentrating and doing the drills correctly. B. Coaches can simulate game like speeds by moving closer or further from home when throwing batting practice. C. Changing speeds on pitches (for older players) as in games can really pay off as the season progresses. D. Coaches who notice a player’s weak spot can try to throw more balls in that area of the strike zone. For example: hitters who are having trouble with outside pitches, the coach should try to throw many pitches to the outer half so the hitter has a chance to improve on that pitch. E. Coaches should explain this philosophy of challenging hitters during batting practice to the team. Explaining to them that it is only practice and that you are only trying to help them is important. * F. Very important - Coaches should teach their players to treat batting practice as close to game like conditions as possible - meaning: not swinging at pitches that aren’t strikes and always trying to hit the ball where pitched (i.e. outside pitches to opposite field, etc.). This ensures players are working on their timing which is the key to hitting. G. As always, coaches should stay positive and encouraging during batting practice with terms like, “nice swing,” “way to watch the ball,” “great effort,” “good balance,” “you are so close to putting it all together,” “it’s only practice.” You get the idea, encouraging words to hitters whether they are hitting the ball well or not will go along way towards keeping the players optimistic and engaged.

Is it the Correct Baseball Swing?

Often, a hitter seems to have a perfect baseball swing but their results never seem to equal this great looking swing. Looks can be deceiving! There is a way to check if the baseball swing is as fundamentally sound as it appears. With the use of a batting tee, follow these steps to analyze the swing:

1. Set or draw a home plate on the ground first.2. Have hitter get set in the spot they normally stand at home, as in a game.3. Lower the tee to the height of the hitters knees and a half-foot in front of their lead leg.4. The tee stem should be placed exactly down the middle of home plate.5. Now, place a ball on the tee.6. Hitter takes 10 swings 7. With the correct, at least 8 balls should be hit solidly directly back through the middle of the diamond.8. It is mandatory that the hitter stands in the same spot each time and does not change to a different position in the batter's box. As mentioned, this must be the same spot they stand in a game.9. The ideal hits would be line drives knee high back through the middle, but any hard hit balls through the middle are a sign of the correct baseball swing.10.This drill will show that the hitter's hands and hips are lining up correctly which is necessary to becoming a good baseball hitter.11. Hitters should practice this drill until they are able to hit at least eight or nine balls back through middle before working on other pitches with the ball on the batting tee.
Finally, the batting tee is a great hitting tool if used correctly.



Former major league baseball player, Jack Perconte offers baseball hitting tips and batting practice advice for players of all ages. His baseball hitting lessons advice can be found at http://www.baseballhittinglessons.com/baseball

Parents don't have to be a professional coach- Baseball hitting tips

Remember, parents do not have to be an expert to advise baseball hitters. They actually need to know just a few basic points to be of help. Often times, the fewer things said, the better. I have mentioned 5 important baseball hitting lessons below. This helpful advice should be reinforced in a positive manner and applies for players of all ages, even major leaguers.
Necessary Hitting Tips
1. Good balance is a key for everything in sport, so mention the term balance to the baseball hitter whenever they seem to be off balance or when taking their eye off ball.

2. As often as possible, do quality batting tee work, or flip drill work, before batting practice begins. Quality is apparent when the hitter hits line drives on the sweet spot of the bat in the direction of where the ball is pitched, or located on the tee. A pitched ball will help the hitter’s timing but drill practice, done correctly, will improve the hitter’s fundamentals. In the long run, cutting back on regular batting practice and doing more good drill work will pay off. Using a lighter bat than normal or using aluminum instead of wood will allow the hitter to save energy, and be able to work longer at their mechanics.

3. When a batter is in the on deck circle and swinging to warm up, teach them to swing the bat to different locations. Most hitters take their practice swings in the exact same groove, time after time and then have trouble hitting balls that are not in their groove. Many hitters also swing a heavy bat when on-deck, which tends to slow the swing and tire the muscles. A few swings with the heavy bat are fine, but using the on deck circle to observe the pitcher and practice swinging to different pitch locations would be better use of the time.

4. The hands of the hitter should be the first part of the body to get tired when swinging. When the player‘s hands begin to tire, have the hitter take a break or wait for another day to work on their hitting. If another area of the hitter’s body gets tired first, then the hitter’s mechanics probably need fixing.

5. The following are great baseball swing tips that you can use and tips that will make you sound like you know what you are talking about. See the ball, stay back, use your hands, track the ball to contact, and maintain balance.
Finally, the common saying “if it ain't broke, there’s nothing to fix” is important to remember. When players are having success, and in a good groove, let them ride it out, practicing just enough to stay sharp. Hitters should save the heavy work load for times when they are struggling with their swing or confidence