Baseball Hitting Tips & Drills

Hitting a baseball requires precise timing and excellent hand-eye coordination, and these things do not come easily. By listening to tips and going through constant practice, however, hitting skills will improve dramatically.

  1. The Soft Tap Drill

    • Have a friend toss a plastic ball from a short distance at a 45-degree angle. When the ball nears the bat, pivot your rear hip and simply tap the ball with the knob of the bat. This drill will help reinforce a smooth motion to the ball, and helps the hitter remember to keep his hands in.

    The Fence Drill

    • This drill requires only a bat and a fence. Start by standing in a hitting stance in front of the fence, and reach out with your back arm to ensure the correct distance for the drill; the hand should just barely make contact with the fence. From that position, practice a regular swing with the bat. The goal of the drill is to learn a full speed swing without coming into contact with the fence. This helps the hitter learn the quickest path to the ball when swinging, which will increase bat speed.

    Choose An Appropriate Bat

    • No matter how gifted the hitter is, if the bat does not suit him well, success will be limited. Regardless of the material of the bat, ensure that the weight and length are comfortable, allowing for the fastest swing with the most power.

    Look For A Good Pitch

    • Without plate discipline, hitting ability means nothing. Hitters must learn to swing at the right pitches, which are generally going to be in the strike zone, particular down the middle, although each hitter has a preferred location. Look for the pitches that can be hit with authority, while taking the ones that would result in a miss or weak contact.

    Use The Whole Field

    • The best hitters do not try to pull every pitch. Instead, they hit the ball where it was pitched. For instance, an outside pitch to a right-handed hitter is easier to make solid contact with when going to right field, while trying to pull it could easily result in a weak ground ball. Likewise, trying to golf a pitch in the dirt is a good way to pop the ball up.