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Hitting Drill: Homerun Derby (Baseball & Softball)

Fun competitive hitting game rewarding line drives and hard contact. Pop-ups and high fly balls are outs even if they go far.

How to Run This Drill

  1. Set up in the outfield or large open space, hitting toward a fence using soft or wiffle balls for safety.
  2. Coach pitches to batters - can throw overhand or underhand depending on player skill level.
  3. Scoring: hard ground balls = 1 point, line drives = 2 points, line drive home runs = 5 points.
  4. Outs: high fly balls are OUTS even if they travel over the fence. Swings and misses, pop-ups, and foul balls are also outs.
  5. Each batter gets 3 outs. Track who scores the most points.
  6. Can also use a pitching machine for consistent pitches.

Coaching Points

  • Rewards proper swing mechanics - line drives score
  • Punishes uppercut swings - pop-ups are outs
  • Great for teaching to drive through the ball
  • Fun competition that reinforces good habits
  • Use soft balls for safety in open spaces

At a Glance

Categories
HittingFun Games
Focus Areas
Mechanics
Age Groups
11-1213-1415-1617-1818+9-10
Players
4-12 players
Difficulty
intermediate
Equipment Needed
  • bases
  • bat
  • home-plate
  • baseballs or softballs

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