Baseball Timing Drills

Winning or losing in a baseball game ultimately comes down to whether players hit or miss a ball pitched to them. Timing the pitched ball is a very important element so that the player's swing meets the ball at the proper impact point and at the right moment. There are numerous timing drills that have been developed and modified over the years to help baseball players succeed in hitting the ball more successfully.

  1. Drop Drill

    • Hitting the baseball on time and at the right spot is all about hand-eye coordination. This drill aims to improve hand-eye coordination as well as batting speed, which are essential components in timing. A pitcher stands a few steps to the side and slightly in front of the batter, whose eyes are focused straight ahead. The pitcher then drops the ball directly into the contact zone and the batter tries to hit the ball within that contact zone before it hits the ground. This drill helps the players know their weak spots within the contact zone and when to swing the bat.

    Frisbee Hitting Drill

    • The Frisbee hitting drill is also meant to enhance hand-eye coordination. The pitcher stands approximately 15 feet from the batter and throws a Frisbee. The flight of the Frisbee will vary as it flies toward the batter. This drill helps the batter follow the Frisbee's flight and adjust appropriately, depending on speed, to make solid contact.

    The Soft Toss Drill

    • This drill helps with both timing and trigger mechanisms. A person tosses balls to the batter at a short distance in front and a little off to the side so the batter can develop quick timing and balance throughout the swing. The pitcher tosses baseballs into the hitting zone at various speeds and angles while the batter follows the balls and swings normally --- with the intention of hitting every ball.

    Colored Balls Drill

    • Using a baseball bat, baseballs with different colors and a pitcher, the batter stands in the batter's box and the pitcher is situated on the pitching mound. Each ball color represents a particular pitch -- curve ball, change-up, slider or fastball -- and the pitcher pitches random balls with the batter calling out the pitch type before swinging. This should help in recognition of pitch type, pitch speed and the arm angle of the pitcher, all in an effort to improve timing.

    Spray Hitting Drill

    • In this drill, four cones divide the field into three sections: left, middle and right. The batter decides in which section of the field she is aiming to hit the first round of balls, and then the pitcher throws 20 balls at varying speeds. This drill helps with pitch-speed recognition, bat control and patience --- all of which contribute to timing.