Two Strikes Drill
October 2005
By: Greg Scott
Equipment:
JUGS Lite-Flite Balls or Tennis Balls and Bats
Purpose: Stress the importance of protecting the plate with two strikes.
This is a great drill when stuck inside on a rainy day an especially so, if you have a team that is racking up on strikeouts looking.
On the wall/bleachers of the gym in which you practice (or against the fence outside), make an exaggerated strike zone with medical tape/anything that will work. Players go to the plate (in front of this strike zone) with a two-strike count. Lite-Flite balls and tennis balls work best for this drill, and get the pitcher a short distance (30-45 feet) away with the ability to throw fastballs and off-speed pitches.
The hitters each get five pitches. If they foul the pitch off, take a ball, or put it in play, there is no penalty, but if they swing and miss – we add one lap for the team. If they take a pitch that lands in the strike zone, we add three laps for the team.
In doing this, we stress widening the hitter’s stance, choking up on the bat, and focusing on any pitch that could be called a strike. This really focuses on protecting the plate with two strikes.
|
