| Putting the ball in play on the ground is not always | | | | hitting zone. This will prevent the hitter from |
| a bad thing, but turning ground balls into line drives | | | | casting the bat out and over the ball which can |
| will definitely help the hitter's batting average and | | | | cause ground ball hitting. This drill and the next on |
| chances of playing baseball at the higher levels. | | | | will help players develop the correct hands to the |
| Hitters with good speed can prosper by hitting the | | | | ball and hand position necessary to hit the ball in |
| ball on the ground, especially in youth baseball, but | | | | the air. |
| at some point the ability to drive the ball into the | | | | Drill # 3 - Place a tee at knee high level and have |
| outfield is necessary. Of course, hitting ground | | | | hitters work on hitting balls at this height until they |
| balls is better than hitting pop-ups but hitting the | | | | begin to hit line drives or solid fly balls. Hitters with |
| ball consistently on the ground is a sign of a faulty | | | | incorrect swings will continually hit ground balls at |
| fundamental swing. | | | | this pitch level. Hitters will have to develop the |
| People generally think that hitting the top of the | | | | correct hip turn and swing in order to hit solid line |
| ball, which results in ground balls, is caused by | | | | drives on the knee high pitch, as stated. |
| hitting down on the ball or chopping at it. In my 21 | | | | * Hitters can combine these drills and perform all |
| years of coaching baseball, rarely would I come | | | | three at the same time. This becomes more |
| across hitters who actually chopped at the ball. I | | | | difficult but can accelerate the process of |
| observed that most ground balls hit were caused | | | | developing the correct baseball swing. |
| by the hitters hands were on an upward path on | | | | For hitters who consistently hit solid ground balls, |
| the initial portion of the swing, usually caused by | | | | as opposed to weak or chopped ground balls, a |
| the lead elbow coming up at the beginning of the | | | | slight adjustment in their stance or hand position |
| swing. This incorrect action is generally known as | | | | may lower the bat position on the ball just enough |
| a chicken-wing, which does not allow hitters to | | | | to hit the lower back portion of the ball instead of |
| bring their hands to the correct palm-up, | | | | the top of the ball. Hitters who widen their stance |
| palm-down hitting position at contact. | | | | and bend their knees slightly may see the |
| With this in mind, here are the drills which will | | | | necessary line drives. Also worth a try is lowering |
| generally turn ground balls into line drives. | | | | the height of the hitter's hands a couple of inches |
| Drill # 1 - To rid the player of the chicken wing | | | | in their initial set-up position. This may allow the |
| problem, have them place their fielder's glove | | | | hitter to get to the back of the ball more |
| under their lead armpit and take numerous swings | | | | consistently. Following these few guidelines should |
| this way, allowing the glove to fall out on the | | | | turn those ground balls into solid line drives. For |
| follow through. | | | | photo illustrations of these drills please refer to |
| Drill # 2 - Have the hitter stand belly button away | | | | my book, The Making of a Hitter: A Proven |
| from a net and take swings with the end of the | | | | & Practical Step-by-Step Baseball Guide. |
| bat just scraping the net as it comes through the | | | | |