Has anyone ever done this drill for oppo hitting?
You set up the l-net at an angle so your bp pitch comes in t an angle for the kids to hit behind the ball.
Or is it better to set up the l-net regular and try to throw outside fastballs?
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I used to take him to the batting cage and slide the mat 6-10" so the ball would be on the outside part. I then told him to hit everything into the net opposite from him. Worked great.
Throwing side toss toward a spot almost at the back hip works well, but you have to be careful not to go too far back or the result can be painful, especially if the kid doesn't have great bat control.
we've use the net set just up the first base line and tossing to the back hip.....I prefer throwing BP and just pitching outside
For me, at younger ages (14U and under), setting up along 1B (or 3B for LHH) is preferable. Kids that age have little (or less) bat control by and large, so it makes it easier. As thye get older, they should be thinking which pitches to hit to opposite field as well.
I like both drills (straight on pitching outside AND angled toss) but what you can do to save time in a practice is, instead of moving the net every time, you can have the batter start straight on hitting outside pitches to opposite field, and then have them start with an open stance which would simulate the net being moved. Therefore a righty would open up to the 6 hole and stride there while trying to hit the ball back up the middle. You could also do the same thing closed off to work on breaking pitches and staying closed.
Not sure I could do that. I know it's simple, but I had a ritual when stepping into the box, both physically and mentally. I just assume most hitters, at least the better hitters, are the same way. I don't like changing anything in the box, for me at least, it is worth the little extra time to either move the net or have another net close to that area ready to go.
