Hitting Drill: Lob Toss (Baseball & Softball)
Advanced patience drill using high-arc tosses like slow-pitch softball. Teaches hitters to stay back and let the ball travel deep before driving it.
How to Run This Drill
- Coach stands or sits behind a screen 20-40 feet in front of home plate.
- Coach tosses balls with a high arc, like slow-pitch softball.
- The batter lets the ball travel as deep as possible before driving it.
- Verbal cue: "Let it get deep."
- Adjust the distance based on coach accuracy and player ability.
- This drill prevents shifting weight to the front foot too early - a common flaw.
- For more advanced players 13+, mix between normal batting practice speed and really slow lob toss. This will ensure players are balanced and can adjust to off-speed pitches.
Coaching Points
- Verbal cue: Let it get deep
- If weight shifts forward too soon, widen stance and shorten stride
- This was one of Cal Ripken Jr daily drills
- Teaches patience and waiting on the pitch
- High arc forces hitters to stay back
At a Glance
- L-screen
- bucket of balls
- stool or bucket for coach
Quick Actions
Similar Drills You Might Like
Explore more drills to build your practice plan and develop well-rounded skills

Single Arm Hitting
Advanced drill that develops a quick, direct swing path by taking the top hand off the bat. Forces the barrel to take a short path to the ball.

7 Ball Front Toss
Front toss drill using numbered zones (1-7) to develop plate coverage and understanding of pitch locations, building strike zone awareness.

Pepper
Classic bat control game with one batter and 2-4 fielders. Hit controlled ground balls, rotate on misses or fly balls. Great for hand-eye coordination.
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