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Softball drill

Preset load timing drill

A hitter who is always late starts with a wider stance and the load already set, then makes only a small move as the tosser's arm comes forward. It simplifies the swing so young hitters can get the bat to the ball on time.

A young softball hitter in a helmet already loaded in a wide stance at home plate as a coach behind an L-screen holds a ball up at the top of the toss
Video by Antonelli Baseball on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Hitting
Ages
6U to 12U
Players
2 (a hitter and a tosser)
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Beginner
Equipment
An L-screen, A bucket of balls, Bat and helmet, A batting cage or net
Indoors
Yes

A young hitter who waits until the ball is in the air to start the load is going to be late, and late hitters foul balls back and swing through hittable pitches. The fix is not to swing harder but to have less to do once the pitch is on the way.

In this drill the hitter starts in a slightly wider stance with the hands and the back hip already loaded. When the tosser's arm starts forward, the hitter makes only a small step or shift and then swings. In the video a coach works with a young hitter on front toss, and the swings get on time quickly.

Setup

  • Set an L-screen about 15 to 20 feet in front of the plate, with a tosser and a bucket of balls behind it.
  • The hitter widens the stance a little past shoulder width.
  • Before each pitch, they set the load: hands back, back hip turned in, weight into the back leg.

How to run it

  1. The hitter gets into the preset position before the tosser starts.
  2. The tosser starts a pitching motion and holds a moment at the top, so the hitter can see it.
  3. As the tosser's arm comes forward, the hitter takes a short, soft step or a small weight shift.
  4. The tosser releases a firm toss into the strike zone.
  5. The hitter swings straight from the preset position and drives the ball up the middle. Rounds of 8 to 10.

Coaching points

  • Time the tosser's arm, not the ball. The move starts as the arm comes forward.
  • Stay loaded. The hands should not drift forward again before the swing.
  • Keep the body athletic and relaxed in the preset, not stiff.
  • Early is better than late. A hitter who is early can still adjust; one who is late cannot.
  • Watch where the fouls go: balls fouled straight back or the other way mean the hitter is still late.

Common mistakes

  • Standing rigid in the preset, which makes the swing stiff.
  • Moving the hands forward before the swing and undoing the load.
  • Waiting until the ball is halfway to the plate to step.
  • Widening the stance so much that the hitter cannot turn the hips.

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

Coach pitch

This can be the young hitter's game stance. Fewer moving parts makes it easier to make contact with live pitching.

10U and 12U

Use it as a fix in the cage for a hitter who is consistently late, then work back toward their normal stride once the timing is there.

Next: Free lineup card generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a hitter use a preset stance in games?

Yes. Many hitters at every level use a wide stance with a small stride or no stride to keep their timing simple, especially against faster pitching.

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