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).