Hitting Drill: Connection Ball Drill (Baseball & Softball)
Place a small ball between lead arm and chest to prevent arm barring. Hit off a tee without dropping the ball before the swing.

How to Run This Drill
- Place 6-8 inch diameter plyometric ball (lighter balls are better) between lead arm and chest
- Set up at tee in normal stance
- Swing at ball on tee
- Ball should NOT drop before swing makes contact
- Ball dropping after contact is OK
- If ball drops early, arms are disconnecting from body (arm barring)
Coaching Points
- Prevents arm barring
- Keeps hands connected to body
- Use a light ball (plyometric ball) for comfort
- Using a heavy ball may hurt mechanics more than help
Quick Actions
At a Glance
Categories
Hitting
Focus Areas
MechanicsConnection
Age Groups
7-89-1011-12
Players
1-4 players
Difficulty
intermediate
Equipment Needed
Similar Drills You Might Like
Explore more drills to build your practice plan and develop well-rounded skills

Pitchingbeginner
Bucket Drill
A softball pitching stride drill where the front leg pulls and the back leg pushes at the same time. The stride foot starts up by the hip while the angled back foot drives toward the catcher.
View drill

HittingFun Gamesintermediate
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.
View drill

Hittingintermediate
Angle Flips
Front toss variation where the tosser is positioned at an angle, helping hitters work on inside-out swing path and staying inside the ball.
View drill