Out of the Box (base running drill)
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Have the batter take a regular batting stance in the batters box. Have a ball dropper holding a tennis ball line up a short distance from home plate in the basepath to 1st base. Have the batter take a normal swing with a "bat" ( use a fake bat , or top of a batting tee). As the "bat" enters the impact zone, drop the tennis ball and have the batter run out of the batters box and catch the ball before it bounces on the wood a second time. Start this drill a short distance from home plate and increase the distance to challenge the batters.
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Note:
Make sure the batters weight is balanced and not leaning forward or backward
or she will take unnecessary steps to regain her balance before running
for the ball. Also, watch the right arm and elbow (right handed batters).
The proper movement is to drive the elbow back and outside the hip to
initiate the running sequence. Finally, watch the "bat" to make
sure she does not "whip" the bat back to the right side and
then run. The "bat"
should be dropped by the left hand after the right hand has released it.
This drill teaches two things. The first is to get out of the batters Box quickly and with the least amount of steps and wasted movement. The second thing it teaches is to hit the ball and run. Not to HIT THE BALL, ADMIRE YOUR HIT AND THEN SAUNTER TO FIRST BASE.
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