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Baseball drill

Ball bounce hitting drill

A partner throws the ball down so it bounces once in front of the plate, and the hitter has to wait for it and adjust to the hop. It works on staying back on off-speed pitches and on adjusting the barrel to the height of the ball.

A youth baseball hitter in a helmet loaded at home plate as a coach throws a ball down to bounce on the turf just in front of the plate
Video by Summers Method on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Hitting
Ages
12U to High school
Players
2 (a hitter and a feeder)
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Advanced
Equipment
An L-screen, A bucket of balls (tennis balls bounce higher), Bat and helmet, A firm surface such as turf or a gym floor
Indoors
Yes

A changeup or a drop ball beats a hitter who commits early. The hitter who can land, wait and then adjust is the one who hits it. The ball bounce drill makes every pitch a little like that: the ball hits the ground, changes speed and height, and the hitter has to stay back and read it.

In the video a partner throws the ball down so it takes one hop in front of the plate. It needs a surface that gives a true bounce, such as turf or a gym floor, so it fits an indoor cage in the winter. It is an advanced drill for hitters who already have a sound swing.

Setup

  • Find a firm surface with a reliable bounce, such as cage turf or a gym floor.
  • The feeder kneels or stands behind an L-screen, about 12 to 15 feet in front of the plate.
  • The hitter takes their normal stance with their game bat.

How to run it

  1. The feeder throws the ball firmly down so it bounces once a few feet in front of the plate.
  2. The hitter loads and strides to a soft landing while watching the ball come off the bounce.
  3. They stay back, read the height and speed of the hop and let it come to them.
  4. They drive the ball up the middle or to the opposite field.
  5. The feeder changes the speed and height of the bounce from rep to rep. Rounds of 8 to 12.

Coaching points

  • Land softly and stay centered so there is time to wait.
  • Hands stay back until the ball is coming up off the bounce.
  • Keep the head still as the ball hits the ground.
  • Match the barrel to the height of the ball rather than bending the body to reach it.
  • Start with easy, high bounces before mixing speeds.

Common mistakes

  • Lunging forward as soon as the ball hits the ground.
  • Dropping the hands to scoop low bounces instead of bending at the knees and hips.
  • Guessing where the hop will go instead of watching it.
  • Throwing bounces that land too close to the plate to be hittable.

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 card

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

By age

12U

Use tennis balls for a higher, slower bounce, and keep the hops in the middle of the zone.

14U and up

Mix short skips with high hops and alternate them with regular front toss, the way a pitcher mixes speeds.

Next: Free lineup card generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if our cage turf is too soft to bounce a ball?

Use tennis balls, which bounce higher, or put a flat board or rubber mat where the ball lands.

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