The best batting practice drills are vital components of training today’s ballplayers, including at the professional level. Incredibly, they follow the same building block approach as our younger players!

It is during these sessions that players refine their hitting mechanics, improve their timing, and develop their overall approach at the plate. To achieve these goals, professional baseball teams employ various batting practice drills. Here’s an overview of some of the most effective drills used by pro players (and all up-and-coming ballplayers, too)!

1. Tee Drills

Perhaps the most fundamental drill is the tee drill, which helps hitters focus on their swing mechanics without the distraction of live pitching. Players set up a tee at different heights to target various pitch types, allowing them to practice a wide range of swings. The primary goal is to reinforce proper bat path and point of contact. This drill is particularly useful for younger players developing their skills, but it remains beneficial for professionals looking to fine-tune their mechanics. Remember, You will never outgrow tee drills!

Key Focus Points:

• Bat angle and path
• Consistency in point of contact
• Following through with the swing

2. Soft Toss

Soft toss drills are some of the best batting practice drills. They involve a coach or another player tossing a baseball underhand to the hitter from a short distance, usually at a slight angle. This drill allows players to focus on timing and hand-eye coordination as they make contact with the ball in a controlled setting. The key benefit of soft toss is that it simulates a moving ball, enabling hitters to work on their timing and explosiveness while minimizing the variables present in a live pitch.

Variations:

• Toss from different angles to simulate outside and inside pitches.
• Adjustment skills also help simulate the quickness it takes to continue competing against better players.
  
• Consider
  • The tosser can stack two balls in their hand and toss so that the top ball stays higher than the bottom ball, all while saying “Top” or “Bottom” so that the hitter has to stay back and explode into the correct ball.
  • Doing a set where the height or the speed of the toss changes to again focus the hitter on staying back, not lunging and still retaining the quickness they need to exceed!
    
    Tosser Note: Your hitter is doing all the work.
    Giving the hitter time to draw the bat back into their stance position will prevent bad and tired swings. It takes two or three good swings to overcome one bad swing. Bad swings waste time and defeat the purpose of striving to improve!
    

3. Front Toss

In front toss, a coach stands in front of the hitter, typically behind a good protective screen, and delivers pitches from a distance of about 10 to 15 feet. This drill helps hitters work on quickness and timing and adjust their swings to a more realistic game-like scenario. Coaches can adjust their pitch delivery to focus on particular skills or pitches, such as fastballs or breaking balls, making it versatile for all hitters. It’s just another of the best batting practice drills you cannot omit from your training!

Pro Tip:

“Pitcher” can be seated or standing, underhand or overhand, whichever seems most game-realistic, and where the throws can be most consistently where they are intended.

Stay out of harm’s way when seated by ensuring your knees are nowhere near where a direct hit to the net can reach you. When standing, the same rule applies to all body parts!

Advantages:

• Provides a closer simulation of the timing and rhythm of a real pitch.
• Allows for context-specific adjustments, such as swing mechanics or pitch recognition.

4. Live Batting Practice

Live batting practice (LBP) involves facing actual pitchers, either teammates or designated throwers, in a controlled environment. This drill replicates real game conditions, allowing hitters to practice with varying speeds and pitching styles. Live batting practice is crucial for hitters to get accustomed to seeing and reacting to actual pitches.

Considerations:

• Players may use specific counts during LBP to simulate game conditions.
• Though technically not considered one of the best batting practice drills, we can call it the top building block of all in this post that lead up to it.
• Hitters can focus on different approaches, such as situational hitting, hitting behind runners, or power hitting to natural or opposite (oppo) fields.
• Throwers can focus certain rounds by throwing the same pitches, especially in locations that allow hitters to focus on hitting specific areas of the field.

5. Situational Hitting Drills

Situational hitting drills challenge hitters to react to specific game scenarios. Coaches often set up different situations (e.g., runner on second, two outs) and have players practice their approach, focusing on situational awareness. These drills teach athletes to adapt their swings based on game situations, improving their decision-making under pressure.

Examples:

• Working on hit-and-run scenarios
• Focusing on hitting to the opposite field with runners on base

6. Bat Speed Drills

Bat speed is a key factor in successful hitting, and several drills focus on increasing this crucial component. Using lighter bats or specific training tools like weighted bats enables players to develop faster, more powerful swings. This not only helps with contact but also enhances overall hitting power, which is fundamental in a professional player’s arsenal.

7. Reaction Time Drills

Improving reaction time is paramount for hitters, as the game demands a quick response to pitches. Reaction time drills, ranging from visual reaction trainers to dealing with unpredictable pitches (such as a machine throwing balls at varying speeds), allow players to train their reflexes and improve their ability to make contact.

Conclusion

Pro baseball players employ these best batting practice drills, all tailored to continually develop their skills. Each batting practice drill serves a specific purpose, whether it’s improving mechanics, timing, quickness, or situational awareness. The successful implementation of these drills contributes significantly to a player’s development and readiness for competitive play.

By consistently practicing these techniques and mechanics, players enhance their performance in crucial game situations, making batting practice not just a routine but a cornerstone of their preparation and success on the field.