Equipment Needed
- Bat
- Balls for front toss or machine
Keep practice balls on hand
A bucket of practice baseballs keeps count-based approach reps moving through every situation.
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- Set up front toss or a pitching machine.
- A coach calls out a count before each pitch.
Instructions
- The coach calls a count (like 0-2 or 3-1) before the pitch is delivered.
- The hitter adjusts their approach accordingly - protecting the zone on 0-2, hunting a pitch to drive on 3-1.
- After the swing, the coach gives quick feedback on whether the approach matched the count.
- Rotate through a full range of counts over the course of the round.
Coaching Points
- Ahead in the count, hunt a pitch in a specific zone; behind, expand and protect.
- Two strikes means the priority shifts to contact and situational hitting over power.
- Approach should be decided before the pitch is thrown, not adjusted mid-swing.
Variation
Add specific situational calls (runner on third, less than two outs) on top of the count to layer in game situations.