Hitting Unlimited Tips and Drills

Over the last 17 years I have traveled around the United States and have put together hitting clinics and seminars that help produce results from T-ball to College level players. I have had the pleasure to work with and learn from great hitters like Von Hayes, Bubba Trammell and a variety of pro level players. These drills and skills can uplift a practice or help a struggling hitter. It is sometimes easy to identify a problem in a swing, but it comes down to having a drill or a technique to get the hitter to self correct the swing. A hitter can take 500 swings a day, but if they are not perfect swings then nothing is accomplished. That is why I created the RBI STICK Training system along with the world famous RALLY BALLS. The drills and formats you use from this informative section will create perfect swings in any practice situation. These drills can be used in any practice setting or used individually.

---

Speed Tee Drill:

This can be done on one knee or standing. If you use one knee it must be the back knee that is down to ensure proper follow through. The player hits three quick balls using proper mechanics and moves out so the next hitter can get his three quick hits completed. This team drill gives the hitter little time to think between hits(thinking can sometimes get a hitter in trouble) 2-3min each

Half Moon Soft Toss Drill:

This drill promotes seeing the ball at different angles and allows the hitter to hit the ball where it is pitched. Start out in front of the hitter and after five soft tosses move even with the hitter to promote up the middle hitting. Finally move slightly behind the hitter to promote going the opposite way. Total soft tosses will be 15 and move to the next hitter. If this is a practice mode then allow the group of three to field balls so no one is standing and not getting better.

Rapid Fire Soft Toss:

This drill allows the hitter to develop quick hands to the ball. Each hitter in the group gets 15 seconds to hit as many balls as they can. Remember this drill can be slowed down if the hitter is struggling. This drill is great with the RBI STICK and RALLY BALLS.

Color Coded Rally Balls:

This drill is perhaps the best I have ever used to create head on the ball. It also promotes hitting the ball on the inside middle half. Take two different color RALLY BALLS and toss them up at the same time and in mid air indicate to the hitter which color to hit. This can be done with baseballs as well. With baseballs toss two up at the same time and indicate to the hitter to hit the top or bottom ball.

These drills should be done during practice in a 30 min turn around station. This gives your hitters many different looks and will guarantee perfect practice swings. Coaches running each station will keep everyone on the same page.

Live pitching should be done by coaches and pitchers this will give the hitters live game repetitions. This will also help the pitchers become familar with pitching to hitters. I like to use a 3-2 count when throwing batting practice to keep the hitters aggresive at the plate.

---

ISOLATION DRILLS FOR HITTERS

(For best results try these in order to pormote tremendous upper body development)

This section is a great way for you as a coach to identify slight problems with a hitters mechnics or just to strenghten the hitter in the upper half.

Try any one of these with the RBI STICK TRAINING SYSTEM OR THE RALLY BALLS.

One Knee Drill:

Put back knee on the ground and place the front leg all the way out and locked at the knee. The tosser will toss 20-30 pitches out in front of the plate. The hitter will feel the upper half work and be sure the hands don't drop when swinging. This drill can correct dragging of the barrell to the ball. It forces the hitter to use the hands. This drill can be done on the tee or live pitching.

Squeeze Ball Drill:

Take a baseball and put it between your feet and squeeze it hard as you take your soft toss balls (20-30). As the hitter is standing and squeezing the focus will be on balance and hand movement. Great drill for the hitter that is having problems with balance and stride. This drill can be done with tee work and live pitching as well.

Wide Base Drill:

Take your normal batting stance and widen it out by twelve inches. In this drill the hitter can not turn the back foot, again this is an isolation drill for upper body work. The hitter will hit 20-30 pitches from the soft tosser. This drill can be done with tee work and live pitching as well.

Once you do all three drills let the hitter take regular batting practice and watch the ball fly. This is a great three station drill for a team practice.

---

ONE HOUR PRACTICE SCHEDULE (THIS IS A SAMPLE PRACTICE AND TIMES) 9:00-9:15 BASE RUNNING LIGHT STRETCH 9:15-9:20 CIRCLE PAT DRILL WITH BASEBALLS (TWO GROUPS NO GLOVES) 9:20-9:30 THROWING DRILLS (WRIST SNAPS, ONE KNEE DRILL, LONG TOSS (LOW VELOCITY TO MID LEVEL VELOCITY) 9:30-9:45 HITTING STATIONS (USE THE ONES ON THE HITTING TIPS) 9:45-10:00 PRE GAME INFIELD/OUTFIELD (USE BASE RUNNERS FOR GAME EFFECTS TWO HOUR PRACTICE SCHEDULE 9:00-9:20 BASE RUNNING LIGHT STRETCH (HOME TO FIRST, FIRST TO THIRD, TAGGING UP THIRD TO HOME) 9:25-9:30 CIRCLE GROUND BALL DRILL WITH ONE OR TWO BALLS (INFIELD AND SOFT HAND DRILL) 9:35-10:00 INFIELD AND OUTFIELD STATIONS (FLY BALLS, GROUND BALLS, CUTOFFS, DOUBLE PLAYS 10:00-10:30 HITTING STATIONS AND LIVE BATTING PRACTICE 10:30-11:00 CONTROLLED INTER SQUAD GAME ALWAYS HAVE PITCHERS AND CATCHERS WORK BULLPEN SESSIONS (KEEP PITCH COUNTS LOW BUT ALWAYS HAVE THEM THROW)