Hitting Drill: Change-Up Front Toss (Baseball & Softball)

Front toss drill mixing regular speed and change-up speeds to develop timing, patience, and the ability to adjust to off-speed pitches.

Change-Up Front Toss - Video Demonstration

How to Run This Drill

  1. Screen set up 30 feet from the plate, hitter sets up even with the plate
  2. Coach underhand throwsthe ball down the middle of the plate on a line at a medium to fast speed from behind the screen
  3. Hitter hits the ball back up the middle of the cage
  4. Every couple of tosses, the coach throws a change-up at a slow speed
  5. The coach should check the position the player is in, making sure they have not started their swing before the change-up gets to them
  6. If the player has already started their swing, the player should focus on being under better control and not anticipating and jumping at pitches
  7. Partners switch after 10 swings

Coaching Points

  • Coach mixes medium-fast and slow tosses
  • Hitter must recognize and adjust
  • Don't start swing before change-up arrives
  • Stay under control, don't anticipate
  • Weight stays back on change-up
  • Teaches timing and pitch recognition

Quick Actions

At a Glance

Categories
Hitting
Focus Areas
Plate Discipline
Age Groups
11-1213-1415-1617-1818+9-10
Players
1-5 players
Difficulty
intermediate
Equipment Needed
  • home-plate
  • net-or-screen
  • baseballs or softballs

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