Softball drill
Punch drill for tee ball
Before they pick up a bat, young hitters practice the swing as a punch: load, step and freeze, then turn and punch toward a ball on the ground with the eyes on it. It teaches the order of the swing and a still head to players who are still learning to hold a bat.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Hitting
- Ages
- 6U
- Players
- The whole team at once, spread out in a line
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- A ball or a marker on the ground for each player, A home plate or spot to stand by (optional)
- Indoors
- Yes
A bat is long and heavy for a five-year-old, and while they fight with it, everything else about the swing goes. The head flies up to watch the ball, the feet cross, and the arms do all the work. Taking the bat away lets them learn the order of the swing with their own body first.
The punch drill turns the swing into a punch. The front hand tucks under the front arm, the back hand is the fist, and the player loads, steps, freezes, then turns and punches at a ball on the ground while watching it. A whole team can do it at once, and it is a good start to any tee ball practice.
Setup
- Spread the players out in a line with plenty of room between them, each with a ball or a marker on the ground in front of their front foot.
- Each player takes an athletic stance, feet about shoulder width apart and knees a little bent.
- They tuck the front hand under the front arm and hold the back hand up near the back ear, like a loaded punch.
How to run it
- On the coach's call, players load back into the back hip, keeping the fist ready.
- They take a small step forward and freeze as soon as the front foot touches down.
- The coach checks that each fist stayed back by the ear.
- On the next call, they turn the hips and punch toward the ball on the ground.
- They freeze at the finish with the eyes still on the ball, then give a thumbs up if they kept watching it.
Coaching points
- Foot down first, then punch. The order is the lesson.
- Eyes stay on the ball on the ground through the whole punch.
- Stay low and athletic, like a basketball player on defense, not standing straight up.
- Turn the belly button toward the pitcher as the punch goes forward.
- Keep it short and fun. A few rounds, then go hit off the tee with the same steps.
Common mistakes
- Dropping the back fist to the waist before punching.
- Looking up at the outfield before the punch is finished.
- Stepping with a stiff, straight front leg and falling forward.
- Punching with the arm only and leaving the hips facing the plate.
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
Tee ball
Use simple cues and hold each freeze long enough for a thumbs up. Count it out loud: load, step, freeze, punch.
Coach pitch
Go quickly from the step-and-freeze version to one smooth punch, then to the tee with a bat using the same rhythm.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why teach tee ball players to swing without a bat?
The bat is heavy for young players, and holding it takes all their attention. Without it they can learn the stance, the step, the turn and keeping their eyes on the ball, and then add the bat.
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