“Half Rubber” Curve Ball Hitting Drill

Set Up:

• The ball is half of a rubber ball, and your bat is the size of a broom handle. (FYI, They do make official Half rubber balls and bats.   Click here for more info…)
• You have a pitcher, a catcher and a batter (others can play the field if they like, but no one wears a glove).
• There are usually 3 to 4 people on a   team.

Execution:

1. The game is simple—if the batter swings and misses the pitch, and the catcher catches it (without it hitting the ground) the batter is out.   However, the batter can swing 1 time or 27 times, as long as the catcher doesn’t catch the pitch.   There is no running of the bases either…strictly pitching, and hitting.
2. If the batter hits the ball past the pitcher on the ground it’s a single, in the air is a double…then pick a line in the outfield to be the HomeRun line.   Just like old school “Ghost Men” on the bases when you don’t have enough kids to have a full team!

Coaching Tips:

• The toughest part of this hitting drill is learning to pitch half of a ball.   The ball is thrown side arm with the flat part toward the ground.   The pitching motion resembles throwing a Frisbee side arm.
• The more you angle the ball, the more it will curve.   Now as the hitter—it’s hard enough hitting a curve ball, now try it with half a ball and half the bat!
• Equally as hard to pitch the half rubber ball, is catching a half rubber ball with no glove and its drastic movements.