colored ball drill

[Megunticook]

Anybody do drills involving colored balls? Or rather, balls with colored dots on them? From what I understand the idea is the batter stands in the box and calls out the color on the ball--requiring the batter to really focus hard on seeing the ball.

Would be curious to hear details on this. Like how big do you make the dots on the ball? Should the batter just take the pitches and focus on seeing the ball, or swing away? Maybe swing away only on one color?

Seems like a cool idea.

I've heard also you can put numbers on the ball, but that seems like it would be very challenging...

[johnlanza]

We used this drill in 5/6 and 7/8 age groups mainly for some of the kids with less experience.
I used different colored sharpies to put a large colored dot on whiffle balls.
We had the batters try to hit the ball as they called out the color they saw on the balls. We also included some balls without any colored dots -just to keep them from just guessing a color.

I like this drill because I feel it kind of diverts their attention from what they ultimately want to do (hit the ball) to something specific (find the color on the ball).
In our case, it seemed like contact improved without worrying too much about mechanics.

[Kings over Queens]

I've written numbers on tennis balls. Same concept, call out the number before or as you hit it.

You can also do a soft toss drill with skittles or considering the time of year, jelly beans.

Pick 3 of different colors, toss and tell them to "hit the yellow one."

[dominik]

I have invented a new focus drill off the tee (probably not invented it)



you put a tiny dot in the center of the ball and a bigger one slightly below and inside (mine is for a lefty but other way round for righties of course). this forces to watch the ball closely and hit the right spot (slightly below center to get it in the air and also slightly inside to prevent hooking). then you place the ball so that the tiny dot is right on the back of the ball and try to hit the big dot with the sweet spot. what do you think?

[songtitle]

I have used many of these drills, and in the end, IMO they are just a waste of time. They're great for camps, or for just having a little fun, or a break.

Using real bats, and real balls, at game speed, is the best.

[Megunticook]

Using real bats, and real balls, at game speed, is the best.

Actually, that's what I meant. I would simply put a colored dot on baseballs and use them for b.p. Only difference would be the batter would say out loud the color as the pitch was delivered.

I'm thinking maybe have the batter take 3-4 pitches, then start swinging. And maybe to mix things up tell them not to swing at the red ones, or only swing at the green ones...

I can see the value here of training the kids to pick up the ball early and track the ball carefully all the way into the hitting zone. Seems like it might be kind of fun and you could make a little game/friendly competition out of it.

[dominik]

I have used many of these drills, and in the end, IMO they are just a waste of time. They're great for camps, or for just having a little fun, or a break.

Using real bats, and real balls, at game speed, is the best.

I agree but what are the other 14 kids doing while one kid is facing game speed pitching? of course game speed pitching is the best but I rather have the other kids hitting off a tee or soft toss than just standing around or shagging fly balls (in case you do it on a field which is of course even more realistic than the cage because you can see the ball flight).