One of the common reasons why batters don’t make contact with the ball is because they don’t track or watch the ball properly. Here are drills to help players track the baseball:

Numbered Baseballs: On baseballs, tennis balls or whiffle balls take a marker and write a number (for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) on 4 sides of the ball.  As you pitch or front  soft toss (coach is behind a screen in front of the player) baseballs to a player, the player hits the balls and says what number was on the ball.

Take Drill: As you pitch or front soft toss baseballs to a player, the player will load, but instead of swinging they will watch the ball all the way into the catcher’s mitt. If you don’t have a catcher available use something to simulate a catcher like a batting tee with a glove on it, a screen, etc.

Top Bottom or Colored Whiffle Ball Drill: From a side soft toss position toss two baseballs, tennis balls or whiffle balls. As you toss the baseballs tell the player which ball to hit (top or bottom). The player should hit the correct ball. You can also do this with colored whiffle balls and tell the player which color to hit.

Inside, Middle or Outside: As you pitch or front soft toss baseballs to a player, the player hits the balls and says the location of the pitch (Inside, Middle or Outside).

As pitchers develop their mechanics it’s important for them to develop good fastballs. As their mechanics and fastballs improve pitchers should also work on hitting ‘spots’ and changing speeds to keep hitters off balance.  When pitchers throw the ball over the same part of the plate it makes it easy for hitters to adjust and hit the ball. Pitchers that have the ability to hit ‘spots’ or vary the location of their pitches (inside, middle, outside & high, low) keep hitters guessing where the next pitch will be.   

Pitchers with the ability to change speeds create timing problems for hitters. The two most common change-up grips are the Palm Ball and Circle Change. The change-up is usually held in the palm of the hand. The more skin touching the ball creates more friction and less velocity. It’s important that the change-up is thrown with the same motion, arm speed, release and follow-through as the fastball. Also, don’t over use the change-up by throwing it on every pitch or on the same count. Use the change-up in moderation to keep hitters guessing.