Game version
Target-zone hitting: two teams of two take turns hitting off the tee toward zones in the field. Each team adds up only its own solid hits.
Spin Recognition Calls
Read the spin of a ball early, the way you will read different pitches.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Mark a stripe on some balls along the seams.
Core: Soft toss. Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 10 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Balls with marked seams, partner
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Hitting
The steps
How it works
- Mark a stripe on some balls along the seams.
- Your partner flips them underhand with backspin or side spin from 20 feet.
- Call the spin before it reaches you.
- Do 30 flips and count your correct calls.
Coaching point
Read the spin, early.
Safety: Use a soft training ball until catching with a glove is easy for you.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a setup: Less (tee), Core (soft toss), More (soft toss to a zone). Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10.
Story
You are a slugger in the big game, and every swing is your turn at bat.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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