Easy Baseball Drills

Easy Baseball Drills
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Easy baseball drills involve the fundamentals of the game, such as batting, throwing and catching. Easy baseball drills should be simple, specific to the skill you're trying to improve and require only one or two other people to perform. According to the High School Baseball Web website, if you're coaching beginner ballplayers, it's important for you to teach them the basic fundamentals while they're still young, as too often a young player's natural athletic prowess will compensate for their lack of fundamental skills.

Batting Practice

Batting practice is an easy baseball drill that you can perform alone or with one or more people. According to the Expert Baseball Tips website, batting practice is an important drill for any batter who wants to be successful. For optimal results, batting practice should be quick and efficient--lasting no longer than 35 to 40 minutes for a 15-player team--and it should target any bad habits you have developed in your stance or swing. Batting practice is an opportunity for you to develop appropriate weight transfer, muscle recruitment patterns and swing speed, and, except on rare occasions, it's not intended to showcase how far you can hit the ball. During batting practice, focus on developing an even swing and hitting line drives. Practice a few bunts too if you have a pitcher tossing batting practice. If you're alone, consider hitting off a tee into a net or cage. Even major league ballplayers practice batting using a tee.

Catching Fly Balls

Catching fly balls is an easy and effective drill for all baseball fielders. Regardless of what position you play, you'll benefit from practicing defensive activities--including catching fly balls and pop ups--on a regular basis. It's important that you learn to catch fly balls and pop ups in all weather conditions and on different playing surfaces, as these two factors often dictate the ease with which you perform your fielding activities. Catching a fly ball or a pop up in bright conditions, when the sun is in your eyes, is different from catching a fly ball or a pop up at night, under artificial lighting. Wind can also be a significant factor in your ability to track down fly balls. Likewise, the playing surface and a field's quirks can determine how quickly you're able to reach the ball and where you should position yourself, and you should practice your fielding in all possible scenarios so that you feel competent and confident during games.

Fielding Grounders

Fielding grounders is an easy baseball drill that's quick, focused and important for overall fielding success. According to the Youth Baseball Info website, if you're coaching beginner ballplayers, the most effective way to help them improve their ability to field ground balls is to teach them the fundamentals of baseball fielding. When you practice fielding ground balls, bear in mind the following points: use both of your hands to field the ball; start your fielding motion in a low position and come up as necessary; cultivate soft hands that dampen the force of the baseball and prevent it from slipping out of your glove; be mindful of your footwork as the ball is coming toward you; and form a triangle on the ground consisting of your two feet and your glove situated in front of you. These tips will help you get the most out of your ground ball fielding drill and become a better defensive player.

References

Article reviewed by David Ciminelli Last updated on: Jun 8, 2010

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