| Hitting a baseball is one of the toughest skills to | | | | numerous batting trainers. But none of them could |
| master. And equally tough to teach. So to help | | | | effectively re-create the likeness of actually being |
| players maximize their abilities and develop into | | | | in the batter's box. And nearly all the batting aids |
| better hitters, it's important for coaches to make | | | | only offered one way to swing at the ball, which |
| batting practice as highly productive as possible. | | | | didn't do much to help players improve their |
| Traditional "soft toss" has always been a favorite | | | | swing. |
| of coaches and is a great timing drill. But I've | | | | So rather than have them practice traditional soft |
| discovered a far better method that's particularly | | | | toss or use a one-dimensional training aid, I came |
| helpful for players at the youth baseball level who | | | | up with Quick Toss. And believe me - if practice |
| need to learn the basic fundamentals that are | | | | develops the perfect swing, then this could be the |
| essential to proper swing development. | | | | perfect practice. |
| I call it Quick Toss and it's proved to be an | | | | Using this method, I'm able to target specific |
| excellent teaching and training drill for the young | | | | areas of the strike zone. This allows me to train |
| players I coach. It's a little different from | | | | my players' to hit the ball on the corners of the |
| traditional soft toss - which uses a slow, arching | | | | plate and give them a better sense of the strike |
| toss from the side, and may lead to bad habits | | | | zone.. |
| such as over-striding, casting, and the big wind-up. | | | | As I monitor my players' development during |
| Instead, Quick Toss suspends the ball directly | | | | batting practice, several noticeable improvements |
| over the plate and in the "proper hitting zone". | | | | stand out: |
| Quick Toss conditions players to react to the ball | | | | * The bat went to the ball much quicker, which |
| more instinctively- just as they would at the plate | | | | improved bat speed. |
| - which results in better timing and mechanics. It | | | | * They learned to "hit the ball where it's pitched," |
| also promotes a more compact, consistent swing | | | | with improved accuracy and ball contact. |
| that develops "naturally" and gives the player a | | | | * The timing step was short and quick, improving |
| solid foundation to build their hitting skills upon. | | | | balance and bat control. |
| Over the years, I've tried many hitting drills and | | | | |