A Preseason Hitting Plan

 A Preseason Hitting Plan

As coaches and players gear up for another exciting season, here are some tips for building and implementing an effective hitting plan. Too often, coaches devise ineffective drills to simply fill practice time, which fail to improve hitters. In preseason, less is more.

The key to building a powerful and consistent offense lies in focusing on drills and skills that will measurably transform each hitter.

Focus on Increasing Bat Speed

I sound like a broken record, but the best way to become a better hitter is to increase bat speed. The ONLY way to materially increase bat speed is by improving hitting mechanics—and the only way to verify this improvement is to measure it with a bat speed measuring device.

While weight training and conditioning are important, they lead to marginal increases in bat speed and power. Hitters who want to make dramatic gains in bat speed, power, and consistency should focus on developing powerful hitting mechanics—not bigger biceps.

Many coaches believe hitting mechanics should only be worked on in the fall and winter. I disagree. Even during the preseason, hitters with already high bat speeds can add a few miles per hour in a short period of time. Weaker hitters can dramatically increase their bat speed in just a few days, not weeks or months. I will be sharing these hitting keys exclusively with the members of Extra Innings Softball.

Some coaches and players are skeptical of my bold assertions regarding bat speed. They don’t believe it’s possible to increase bat speed so significantly in such a short time. Or they don’t understand the real benefits of more bat speed. But let me tell you—there’s nothing like seeing the expression on a hitter’s face when their bat speed jumps immediately after making a few simple adjustments.

Increased Bat Speed = More Power

Increased bat speed translates directly into more power. Studies show that by increasing bat speed by just 1 mph, the ball will travel an additional 5 feet! I regularly see my new hitters increase their bat speed by 5-10 mph after just one workout. If you do the math, the ball will now go 25-50 feet farther—potentially turning a single into a double, or a double into a home run.

Follow the Right Hitting Progression

With a limited number of practices before the season, it’s tempting to spend most of your hitting time facing live pitching or hitting off machines set to game speeds. But I suggest adopting this hitting progression to better prepare hitters for that first at-bat of the season. This plan should also be used throughout the season to ensure the swing doesn’t degrade.

TEE WORK: Building The Foundation

It all starts with tee work. The best Major League baseball hitters know that success begins with focused and perfect tee work. Hitting off a tee gives hitters total control—the ball is stationary, and there are no rises, drops, or other spins to deceive them.

With a stationary ball, hitters can focus on each individual component of the swing. Hitters who spend time working on their tee skills in the preseason and throughout the regular season will spend more time on base during games.

Don’t fall into the trap of reducing tee work in favor of pitching machines or live sessions during preseason. This mistake will limit hitters from reaching their full potential. Professional hitters make tee work an integral part of their regimen—so why wouldn’t high school or college hitters do the same?

Here’s a tee sequence I use in every practice:

Warm-up: Start with rhythmic, controlled full swings at around 80% effort to loosen up. Once the hitter is loose, proceed to the first drill.

1/2 Swing Drill: The goal is to practice achieving full extension at impact. Hitters should finish with both arms fully extended and both elbows and wrists stiff. The end of the bat should point over the top of the pitcher’s head. The ideal result is a line drive to center field. Hold the finish for a few seconds to feel the extension and confirm the correct position.

When done properly like the hitter below, the body should end in a powerful, leveraged position—weight shifted from the back leg to the stiff front leg without compromising the body angle.

2/3 Swing Drill: The goal of this drill is to maintain the extension achieved in the 1/2 Swing Drill. Both arms should remain extended, and the elbows and wrists stiff as long as possible. The bat should finish on an upward plane toward the pull field. The ideal hit is a high line drive toward an outfield gap.

Once again, hold the finish for a few seconds to ensure proper execution.

When performed correctly, the hitter’s body should maintain the finish of the 1/2 Swing Drill, but now the bat will travel around the body and point toward the pull field.

A “Party Trick”: Once hitters become proficient with both drills, the ball will consistently land in the same area of the field or batting cage. It’s like a party trick! This consistency is due to hitters using their entire body, rotating powerfully without “aiming” the bat with their hands or arms. This leads to more power and consistency, especially in high-pressure situations.

Directional Hitting

After experimenting with various methods to help hitters train their bodies to drive the ball to the opposite or pull fields, I developed two additional tee drills. These drills ensure hitters don’t deviate from their core swing mechanics when practicing directional hitting.

Most instructors adjust the tee position to simulate pitch locations, but this can cause hitters to change their mechanics and rely on their arms or wrists to guide the ball. Instead, by aligning the feet toward the desired field, the tee drill more accurately simulates a game swing.

In front toss sessions and in games, good hitters lift their front leg as the ball approaches. As they recognize the pitch path, they put their front foot down in one of three directions: toward the opposite field, straight down, or slightly toward the pull field.

The two pictures below illustrate how to set up to hit toward the pull field (left) and opposite field (right). Start with an exaggerated foot alignment to drive the ball in the desired direction. Over time, this angle can be reduced as hitters become more proficient.

Focused Full Swing

Once the drills are complete, it’s time to focus on full swings. Hitters should be intentional about executing each swing with precision. Before every swing, choose one specific swing component to focus on—whether it’s setting up powerfully in the batter’s box, achieving extension at impact, or maintaining full extension after impact with the ball.

Maximum Power!

After warm-ups and these simple drills, it’s time to swing with maximum effort. In game situations, hitters should trust the individual hitting keys and swing sequence. During this drill, hitters should focus on swinging as aggressively as possible, without worrying about where the ball is hit. The goal is to hit the ball hard!

FRONT TOSS: Controlled Live Pitching

After productive tee work, front toss is the next step in the hitting progression. Front toss sessions should mirror tee work, with the ball being thrown underhand from 10-15 feet. This helps hitters face live pitching in a controlled setting.

Front toss sessions are a great opportunity to evaluate whether the swing sequence is repeatable. Since the ball travels at a consistent speed and location, there’s no excuse for hitters to alter their mechanics. If the swing degrades compared to the tee swing, coaches can use video to identify which parts of the swing need adjustment.

The main goal of front toss is to simulate game conditions—so hit to all fields, particularly the opposite field. I often create fun competitions by awarding points for hitting designated targets in the cage, which adds a competitive element to practice.

BATTING PRACTICE: Putting It All Together

What’s good for professional baseball players is also good for softball players. However, softball teams rely too heavily on front toss in the preseason and before games.

Batting practice—where a pitcher throws fastballs at around 70% of game velocity—is crucial. Pitchers can throw from the pitching circle or closer. This allows hitters to synchronize their swing with the full pitching motion and release point. It also helps improve timing and rhythm, which is more transferable to real-game conditions than front toss.

If pitching resources are limited, there are other options. Pitching coaches, former pitchers, or position players who used to pitch are good alternatives for throwing batting practice.

Pitchers who throw batting practice will be rewarded with more run support. A potent offense takes the pressure of any pitching staff.

A Quick Note on Pitching Machines

I’m not a fan of pitching machines set at game speed or higher. Most hitters “cheat” by starting their swing prematurely, causing their mechanics to break down. Instead, use machines set to speeds closer to front toss or batting practice.

LIVE PITCHING: The Final Step

Only after tee work, front toss, and batting practice should teams face live pitching. Even the best hitters will experience more degradation in their mechanics against full velocity and varied spins. The key is minimizing this additional degradation.

I’ve seen too many good hitters demoralized after facing live pitching too early, when they adjust their swing just to make contact. Live pitching is critical in the progression, but too much too soon can have a detrimental effect. When hitters are confident in their mechanics, live pitching sessions can be greatly beneficial.

The Results of a Hitting Progression

A comprehensive hitting progression program will prepare hitters for success during the season. If hitters are 95% perfect off the tee, 75% perfect during front toss, 60% perfect during batting practice, and 40% perfect during games, they’re on their way to exceling in high school, making the travel team, getting that college scholarship, and being named All-Conference, or even All-American.

MENTAL GAMES: Trust Your Swing

My final tip for preseason is to develop and implement mental games that fit the individual or team. I use the word “games” intentionally because training the mind is just as important as training the body.

Mental games can include visualization, association, and observation. Visualizing positive outcomes, associating past successes, or observing the swing sequence to adjust, are powerful tools. But the most effective mental strategy is simply to trust.

Coaches often say, “Trust your swing!” This is great advice, but many hitters don’t fully embrace it. They often overthink their mechanics while waiting in the on-deck circle. When hitters trust their swing, their minds are free to focus on the game situation and the pitch, leading to more confidence and success.

I look forward to sharing some of my fun mental games and exercises with Extra Innings Softball.

It’s Time to Play

The preseason is a time of practice, patience, perseverance, and hard work. It’s an opportunity to prepare for a fresh start and a new season. Make the most of it!

*****

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