The batting cages can either be a fun diversion, or a serious tool to improve your hitting mechanics. Batting cages are there to simulate the perfect pitch, so a hitter can learn to identify a good pitch and discover techniques for making contact with the ball. Coaches can use batting cages to help improve the basic mechanics, turning good players into great ones.
Eyeing the Pitch
It’s important to identify a good pitch so the player knows what to swing at. It’s also important to judge the distance of the ball, and be able to see where the pitch will land in one’s hit box. Have players watch pitches thrown at them repeatedly and focus on making contact with the ball at the right moment. Film the player’s swings at the moment of impact with a high-speed camera, then show them the footage to see where in their swing they made contact with the ball. Work on consistently judging a good pitch, and more players will make solid connection with the ball.
Bread and Butter
Find out what works for a particular player and drill that hard. For instance, using swing speed radar to judge how fast your players swing and using that data to work on their power. If the player’s stance gives them lots of power, have them focus on hitting for distance. You can always work the kinks out over time, but it’s important to build good fundamentals to muscle memory.
Work the Weakness
If a player can’t bunt, the batting cage is a good chance to learn how it’s done. It will throw roughly the same pitch every time, and the player can practice hundreds of hits at a time. As the coach, your job is to give players an honest assessment of their skill set and help them improve accordingly. You can reinforce good behavior through drills, like a bunting drill. Have each player hit ten bunts in a row before taking a real swing at the batting cage. This will teach consistency, and help you find the players who need the most help.
Bring a speedtrac to the field and record pitch speeds and swing speeds. You can use this data to point out where players can put more power into a shot, or adjust swing speed to make connection with the ball.
Study the Best
Before practice, have a session with players where you watch the greats swing in highlight reels. Study players from the majors and try to point out what works, and what doesn’t. Use these players like analogies and invoke them during practice.
Keep Positive
They might still have a long way to go, but helping your team stay positive through tiny moments of improvement is important. A good coach not only leads, a good coach motivates as well.
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