Softball drill
Balance beam tee drill
The hitter stands on a low wooden board with the heels hanging off the back and takes full swings off a tee. The board shows at once whether the hitter lunged, fell back or lost posture, so they learn to stay balanced on a real swing.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Hitting
- Ages
- 10U to High school
- Players
- 1 hitter per station
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Equipment
- A sturdy wooden board, such as a 2x6, a few feet long, Batting tee, A bucket of balls, Bat and helmet, A hitting net or cage
- Indoors
- Yes
Balance problems are hard to see from the dugout. A hitter rocks onto the heels, lunges forward, or falls off the plate after the swing, and each one costs bat speed and solid contact. On a narrow board, any of those shows up right away, because the hitter steps off it.
In the video the hitter stands on a wooden board with the balls of the feet on it and the heels hanging off the back, then swings off a tee. It keeps the weight on the balls of the feet. It is a one-player station that works in a cage or a gym.
Setup
- Lay a sturdy board in the batter's box, parallel to the plate, on a flat surface that does not slip. Keep it low to the ground.
- Set the tee for a middle strike from where the hitter will stand on the board.
- Put a bucket of balls within reach of the tee.
How to run it
- The hitter steps onto the board in their stance, with the balls of both feet on the wood and the heels hanging off the back edge.
- They set an athletic base, knees bent, and find their balance.
- They load into their normal launch position.
- They take a full, game-speed swing off the tee while staying on the board.
- They hold the finish for a moment, then reset. If they step off, they say which way and why before the next swing.
Coaching points
- Heels off the back edge so the weight stays on the balls of the feet.
- Full-effort swings. A careful half swing just to stay on the board teaches nothing.
- Head quiet and centered between the feet through the stride and the turn.
- Use the misses: stepping off forward means a lunge, stepping off backward means falling back.
- Safety first: a low, stable board on a flat floor, with clear space around it.
Common mistakes
- Standing with the whole foot on the board, which takes away the balance challenge.
- Taking soft swings for fear of falling off.
- Lunging forward instead of turning around a centered body.
- Using a board that rocks or slides.
Printable drill card
Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.
Print the drill cardSmaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).
By age
10U and 12U
Use a wider board, such as a 2x8, laid flat on the floor until players are comfortable, and start with dry swings.
14U and up
Once tee swings are clean, add soft toss or front toss while the hitter stays on the board.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to build a balance beam for this drill?
No. A plain 2x6 board laid flat on turf or a rubber mat works. What matters is that it is sturdy, low and does not slide.
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