Do you hitters (or coaches) work lanes like the pitchers do?

My Son's hitting coach definitely works him that way, although he dosn't change his position at the plate, just the pitch location. The hitter is supposed to take the outside pitches oppo, the ones down the middle, back up the middle and turn on the inside pitch. They use a color coded plate and periodically the coach will ask where the pitch was, over what color or exactly how far off the plate. A ball that is a baseball width or so off the plate, either needs to be driven oppo or more likely fouled off. Too close to take for a 3rd strike.

quote:

They also moved towards the machine (high pitch) and away from the machine (low pitch).

They the batter and you the Pitcher ( running the machine).
Know what your going to pitch.
In real life batting against a pitcher with more then 2 pitches.
You will not know if it is a high pitch or a low pitch before the ball is pitched.
So I would find a place in the batter's box and adjust my swing to the pitch.
Make sure to cover the whole plate with your bat.
As far as lanes, and or location's of a pitch.
Thats what you adjust too.
Bond's crowds the plate, and has learned how to turn on the inside pitch.
I like to make it as simple as possible.
Inside pitch, Pull it.
Outside pitch, drive it the other way.
Anything in the middle, Drive to the gaps.
EH

We used to work at a stationary batting cage. It threw the same place and was automated, not fed by a coach (or dad). The best I could do was move the hitter in and out (up and back).

Yes, we worked on that. I saw a great drill Coach Cohen demonstrated at the University of Kentucky which involved front toss and cones. It was a progression drill with ball to the inside, hit ball over a cone you placed approximate to 6 hole. Toss ball to center and hit ball up the middle hitting screen protecting tosser. Toss ball low and away and hit ball over a 3rd cone. Now, this is a very simplistice description of the drill but it is a very good drill. After the progression, the work on recognition follows with the tosser not throwing a known progression.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballpapa:
We used to work at a stationary batting cage. It threw the same place and was automated, not fed by a coach (or dad). The best I could do was move the hitter in and out (up and back).

What you've done is fine. You are only moving the hitter to simulate different pitches. You can do this with soft toss and tee work without moving the hitter also. I like the tee because you can make sure they are driving the ball oppo instead of pushing the ball oppo.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballpapa:
A pitcher spends a lot of time working lanes --- inside, outside, middle, up, down and middle. Just wondering, do you hitters work lanes also?

I don't see many programs doing this. Any of you high school coaches (or hitters or other coaches) spend time with lanes?

.
.
.

Excuse me, BUT ....... maybe since Abner Doubleday was getting shell shocked at Fort Sumter?

Well that's a stretch. How about
- since Mr. Williams (and before that)
- since Rajah....(and before that)
- since "Say it ain't so, Joe"

Just in case you are listening.....

I may have several 8" x 11" posters (of the TW's Happy Zones), around here somewhere.
I have provided this as a lesson plan to my hitting 'students', and probably over the past 35+ years.

Email me to jog my memory to locate and try to send to you.
(or better yet, try...

Happy "Lanes" (11 x 7)

Regards
Bear

p.s.

A) My grandson may also get drafted!

That is very important in our BP. Work outside with Inside pitches sprinkled in, both high or low. No middle pitches.