For more age-specific drills, see here for the best drills for 11-12 year olds. see here for the best drills for 9-10 year olds, and see here for the best drills for 7-8 year olds. Click here for an overview of WIN Reality’s age-by-age curriculum.
Hitting drills are a key piece to practicing and having a routine for every baseball and softball player, from youth players to professionals. However, we never want to just do drills for the sake of doing drills. There needs to be intent and a reason behind the drill based on what you are looking to improve and accomplish. To help players of all ages improve, we’ve gathered some of our favorite hitting drills that address timing, vision, contact skills, and power.
The Short Answer: Our favorite hitting drills are:
No matter what area you are trying to improve, the right hitting drills can help take your game to the next level. Let’s dive into the key areas to focus on and explore the best drills that can help you become a better hitter in the batter’s box.
Key Hitting Skills to Focus on Developing
When it comes to hitting, four essential pillars create the foundation for a complete hitter:
- Timing
- Vision
- Bat-to-Ball Skills
- Power
Vision plays a vital role, as the ability to recognize pitch types and locations early is crucial to making good swing decisions. There’s an old saying in baseball: “You’re only as good as the pitches you swing at.” No matter how good your timing, bat path, or bat speed is, if you swing at bad pitches, you simply won’t hit. Timing is crucial because even with the best swing and a great pitch to hit if the ball isn’t in your hitting zone when you swing, you won’t hit it. While mechanics can affect timing, it’s largely a mindset—hitters need to approach each pitch ready to hit, with an aggressive “yes, yes, no” mentality rather than hesitating with a “wait and see” approach. These two components work hand in hand, forming the foundation of every successful hitter.
GET STARTED WITH WIN REALITYBat-to-ball skills and power complete the equation. The name of the game is to hit the ball and the more consistently a hitter can square the ball up, the more likely they are to have success. The most important part of bat-to-ball skills is a hitter’s bat path. A good bat path allows the bat to stay on the plane of the pitch longer, increasing the chances of squaring the ball up, even if your timing is slightly off. When it comes to power, swinging the bat hard increases your chances of hitting the ball harder and farther. While power is essential for driving the ball with authority, it’s only effective when paired with the ability to consistently square up the ball. Developing these four key pillars will put any hitter in a position to succeed and be dangerous at the plate.
The Best Hitting Drills for Improving Vision
Below are some great drills if you want to improve your vision:
Simulated At Bats
Doing Simulated At Bats is a great way to train timing, swing decisions, and even have an approach at the plate by implementing counts and situations. This can be done by going full distance from the mound, or by short-boxing it at half the distance. Limit to 5-7 high-focus at-bats per session.
Two Machine Drill
This drill is great for hitters who struggle with their swing decisions and adjusting to different pitch shapes or speeds. With two machines set up to throw different pitches such as a fastball/curveball combo, it forces hitters to quickly recognize and react. This drill simulates the unpredictability of in-game pitching, helping hitters improve their ability to identify pitch types, make quick decisions, and only swing at hittable pitches, ultimately refining their swing decisions and timing.
Wild Pitcher Drill
This drill is great for hitters who make poor swing decisions or struggle with staying ready to hit and become passive when they go up against wild pitchers. This is a common problem young hitters face. Hitters need to maintain their aggressiveness and stay ready to hit.
The Best Hitting Drills for Better Timing
Here are some great drills if you want to improve your timing:
Early Hover Drill
The Early Hover Drill is perfect for hitters who struggle with being on time and ready to hit. This drill emphasizes gaining more control with the back hip during the forward move. Hitters will be working on their ability to maintain good posture and their ability to stay behind the ball.
Three Plate Drill
The Three Plate Drill is designed to help hitters improve their timing and create a foundation of adjustability. It teaches hitters to stay inside the ball, staying short to and long through the ball. This drill is especially useful for players who struggle with controlling their load, tend to drift forward, or have difficulty getting on plane with different speeds.
Hard/Soft Drill
This drill is great for hitters who struggle with their timing and adjusting to offspeed pitches or get sped up by fastballs that follow an offspeed pitch. The environment will require hitters to coil properly and create a good forward move.
The Best Hitting Drills for Improving Contact Skills
Below are some excellent drills we recommend for improving contact skills at all ages:
Hitting with a Skinny Bat
Hitting with a skinny bat is a great way to improve your bat-to-ball skills because it forces the hitter to be more precise with their ball striking and bat control.
Stop at Contact Drill
Hitters will improve contact quality by learning to stay inside and behind the ball, match the swing path to the pitch plane, and stay connected throughout the swing for line drives.
Power V Drill
The Power V Drill is great for hitters who want to train their hitting mechanics to stay behind, inside, and through the ball.
The Best Hitting Drills for Increasing Power
Here are some great drills if you want to go the route of improving your power:
Shuffle Ups
This drill will teach hitters how to generate momentum, move fast, and build bat speed.
Recoil Swings
This drill will force the hitter to turn tight, swing from the center of the body, and accelerate then decelerate the swing quickly. Mastering this is crucial for hitting the ball hard.
Knob to Knee Drill (with high intent)
Hitters will learn how to load, create separation, and gain momentum into the swing. This drill emphasizes swinging with intent and looking to do damage.
Med Ball Shot Put & Scoop Toss
Both the scoop toss and shotput are great for hitters looking to learn how to move their body fast. Hitters will learn how to properly load and unload their body explosively in the proper sequence.
How WIN Reality Can Help
WIN Reality is a complete player development platform designed to help athletes at every level reach their full potential. WIN Reality’s virtual reality platform allows players to see pitches and take batting practice in a virtual environment, simulating real-game scenarios. This immersive experience helps hitters improve their timing, pitch recognition, and make game-speed swing decisions without the need for a batting cage or live pitching.
In addition to VR training, WIN Reality offers a mobile app that features player reporting and Swing AI technology, which plays a pivotal role in improving swing mechanics. By analyzing a player’s swing through biomechanics reporting, the app provides personalized feedback and recommendations to optimize their mechanics. Proper swing mechanics are essential for maximizing bat speed and bat path; any inefficiencies can lead to reduced performance at the plate. By focusing on refining these mechanics, hitters can improve their bat path, enabling them to make solid contact consistently and generate greater power.
Explore WIN Reality’s pricing options to find the perfect fit for your training needs and elevate your hitting practice. Embrace this innovative tool to support your players’ development, build their confidence, and watch them thrive at the plate.
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