Hitting Drill: 3 Plate Hitting Drill (Baseball & Softball)
Vary the distance between the pitcher and home plate to simulate timing for offspeed pitches and encourage athleticism in the swing. Use three preset distances and alternate between them each swing.
How to Run This Drill
- Setup:
- - Set up three home plates at different distances
- - This simulates different pitch speeds, timing adjustments and encourages athleticism in the swing
- 1. Pitcher Selection
- - Use coach or machine that can throw consistent strikes
- - Speed should be game-appropriate for age level
- - Alternate between the three plates randomly
- 2. Hitting Sequence
- - Pitcher calls out which plate to hit from before each pitch
- - Forces hitter to quickly adjust timing and load
- - Simulates fastball vs. offspeed recognition
- 3. Focus Points
- - Different distances require different timing
- - Closer plate = quick hands, shorter load (like fastball)
- - Farther plate = longer load, let ball travel (like changeup)
- - Middle plate = standard timing
- 4. Rotation
- - 60-90 seconds per hitter maximum
- - Keep line moving - quality over quantity
- - Next hitter on deck should be ready immediately
- - 2-3 rounds for each player
Coaching Points
- Teaches timing adjustments for different pitch speeds
- Quality swings only - focus on one coaching cue per round
- Helmets required at all times
- Keep on-deck area clear and organized
- Simulates having to adjust to fastball vs offspeed
- Forces hitters to trust their hands and react
At a Glance
- bat
- net-or-screen
- baseballs or softballs
Quick Actions
Similar Drills You Might Like
Explore more drills to build your practice plan and develop well-rounded skills
Chair Drill
Uses a chair to correct stride length issues. The front foot should land just in front of the chair, preventing over-striding or under-striding.
Angled Force Plate Tee - Back Foot
Biomechanical drill using an angled force plate to prevent back leg drift and teach proper weight distribution during the load phase.
Homerun Derby
Fun competitive hitting game rewarding line drives and hard contact. Pop-ups and high fly balls are outs even if they go far.
Add This Drill to Your Practice Plan
Use our free Practice Planner to build complete practice plans with this drill and 100+ others. Drag and drop to customize timing and order.
Try the Practice PlannerFree forever - No account required