Hand-eye coordination is the ability to process visual stimuli to guide the placement and movement of the hands. There are a variety of exercises you can do to improve your hand-eye coordination, which is an essential skill for virtually any sport. As you use a baseball to develop hand-eye coordination, you can also develop important skills for the game itself.
Catch
Believe it or not, the simple exercise of playing catch isn't just a way to pass the time. It's actually a fundamental exercise for developing hand-eye coordination. If you have a partner, start just a few feet apart, and toss the ball to each other gently. Gradually move farther apart, and throw the ball with a variety of trajectories, from very flat to very arched. If you're on your own, you can practice tossing the ball high in the air and catching it.
Wall Ball
A simple activity called wall ball is a hand-eye coordination exercise that incorporates the skills of an infielder. You can throw a baseball against the concrete wall of an outdoor racketball court and practice fielding grounders. Depending on how you throw the ball, you can practice fielding backhand and forehand, and fielding the ball on one hop or as it is rolling on the ground.
Batting Practice
Hand-eye coordination is an essential element of batting. To develop better coordination and better confidence in the batter's box, stand with a bat extended straight over home plate. Have someone pitch the ball, and watch the ball make contact with the bat. Don't swing--simply guide the bat up or down to meet the ball. As your ability improves, switch to full swings, and focus on the bat and ball connecting.
