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.
Lay Off the High Pitch
Learn to spot a pitch that starts in the zone and climbs above your hands, and let it go.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
A coach mixes strikes with high pitches from behind an L-screen.
Core: Soft toss. Beat your own best of solid contact out of 10.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 15 min
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Bat, softballs, coach, L-screen, helmet, catcher or net
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Hitting
The steps
How it works
- A coach mixes strikes with high pitches from behind an L-screen.
- Pick up the ball early and ask: will it finish above my hands?
- Take the high ones and drive the strikes.
- Do 20 pitches and count good decisions.
Coaching point
Above the hands, let it go.
Safety: Wear a helmet with a face guard. The person tossing or pitching stays fully behind a protective screen.
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 championship 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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