| To hit the ball well takes a lot of practice. Youth | | | | most common way I see soft toss done is from |
| baseball is actually easier than for older players | | | | the side of the batter. I prefer to use a screen |
| because there is only the basics to learn and | | | | and toss from the front. This better simulates the |
| develop. This makes it easy for as as coaches to | | | | pitch and the tosser and see the hands, head, and |
| improve our youth baseball teams hitting. | | | | stride better too. Franklin L-Frame Pitching Screen |
| We still must do it right. Practice does not always | | | | Work on strike tosses in the middle, inside, and |
| make perfect. The practice must be effective | | | | outside... up, down. Toss in a few balls too so the |
| and done correctly or the mind and body will instill | | | | player can work on learning the strike zone also. |
| the wrong mechanics. | | | | As you see a lot of work can be done in a short |
| Hitting off the tee - has probably been a lost art. | | | | period of time. |
| It is however making a comeback in certain | | | | If you toss from the side ,it is best to have net |
| circles. I have always started batting practice by | | | | to target the balls. |
| hitting off the tee. Yes..all ages. Purpose of the | | | | Free Hitting - Turn 'em loose. Pitch or use a |
| tee is to load the bat and get our weight back. | | | | pitching machine and let the youth baseball player |
| First check that the players hands are in the right | | | | work on improving his hitting with live pitches |
| place..batting stance should comfortable. Second, | | | | without a lot of coaching at this point. Let the |
| Load the bat (Body and hands go slightly back | | | | player have fun and just hit away. The Tee drill |
| and front foot comes up) Third, short quick swing. | | | | and soft toss is to work on mechanics. Now |
| Common mistakes to look for and avoid is the | | | | Focus on the ball and Swing. |
| player dropping his hands and and weight back to | | | | These tips and basic batting practice strategy will |
| far which is caused by wrapping the hands around | | | | greatly help your players improve their hitting |
| the head. Wrapping the bat and Dropping the | | | | skills. As a parent you can quickly move your son |
| hands is usually the youth baseball player trying to | | | | to the meat of the batting order with these |
| hit a hard fly ball. It lengthens the swing and there | | | | simple batting practice two or three times a |
| will difficulty in hitting the ball correctly(popups) if | | | | week. As coaches we should try and implement |
| at all, in live pitching. | | | | some batting practice every practice. The best |
| Soft Toss - My favorite way to practice hitting. A | | | | way is to divide them into groups..some work on |
| youth baseball coach (or whoever is doing the | | | | tee..move to ..the soft toss..then free hitting and |
| tossing) can get a lot of control over the ball and | | | | move on to shagging. |
| watch the mechanics without fear of injury. The | | | | |