"Out of the Box" Drill

Needed: JUGS Pitching Machine Lite-Flite™ Balls, and tennis ball.

This drill comes from Rex Roden, Sacramento, CA, our November 1999 Drill of the Month Winner.

Step 1

Use the JUGS Machine to throw Lite-Flite™ Balls to the hitter. The hitter makes contact with the ball and proceeds to run to first base.

Step 2

When the hitter makes contact, the coach, who is set up down the first baseline, bounces a tennis ball off the ground coming up to about waist level.

Step 3

The hitter runs down the first baseline and tries to catch the ball on the first bounce.

Hint:Coach can set up about 6-8 feet down the baseline at first and gradually move farther down the line as the hitters' speed out of the box increases. Repetition will cause runners to increase their speed and quickness out of the batter's box.