The best examples of hitting drills for beginners: 3 practical examples that actually work

When you think about examples of hitting drills for beginners: 3 practical examples, tee work has to be in the conversation. Almost every big leaguer still hits off a tee, and that alone should make beginners feel better about using one.

The basic tee drill is simple: place a ball on the tee, get into your stance, and take a controlled swing. But the way you structure that tee work can turn it from boring to powerful.

Example of beginner tee drill #1: middle-middle contact

Start with the tee set up in the middle of the plate and around belt height. Ask the hitter to:

• Take a comfortable stance, feet about shoulder-width apart.
• Keep their head still and eyes on the ball.
• Focus on driving the ball right back up the middle.

This is the most classic example of a hitting drill for beginners because it teaches:

• Balance through the swing.
• A level bat path through the hitting zone.
• Consistent contact without worrying about pitch speed.

A simple goal: 5–10 solid line drives back up the middle before moving the tee.

Example of beginner tee drill #2: inside and outside pitch awareness

Once the hitter can consistently smoke the ball up the middle, you can turn this into one of the best examples of progression-based tee drills.

Move the tee:

• A few inches closer to the hitter and slightly out in front (simulating an inside pitch).
• Then a few inches farther away and slightly deeper in the zone (simulating an outside pitch).

Ask the hitter to:

• Turn on the “inside pitch” and pull it with authority.
• Stay through the “outside pitch” and drive it to the opposite field.

These variations are simple examples of hitting drills for beginners that build:

• Plate coverage awareness.
• Proper contact points.
• The idea that not every pitch is hit the same way.

Example of beginner tee drill #3: balance and finish check

Another real example that works well with younger players is the “hold your finish” tee drill:

• Hit off the tee as normal.
• After contact, freeze and hold your finish for a full 2–3 seconds.

Coaches and parents can quickly check:

• Is the hitter falling over or off-balance?
• Is the back foot spinning wildly instead of pivoting under control?
• Is the head still roughly over the center of the body?

This is one of the best examples of a low-stress, low-skill barrier drill that teaches body control. It also lets you sneak in some basic movement coaching without overwhelming the player.

For more on youth movement and injury prevention, organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and NIH regularly emphasize progressive loading and age-appropriate repetition in youth sports, which fits nicely with short, focused tee sessions instead of marathon practices (NIH youth sports overview).

2. Soft toss and front toss: live-feel examples of hitting drills for beginners

Once a hitter has some comfort on the tee, the next step in our examples of hitting drills for beginners: 3 practical examples is soft toss and front toss. These drills introduce a moving ball without the pressure of full-distance pitching.

You don’t need a perfect arm to help a player here—just a bucket of balls and a little space.

Example of beginner soft toss drill #4: side soft toss with targets

For side soft toss:

• The hitter stands in their normal stance facing a net or fence.
• The tosser kneels or stands about 8–10 feet to the hitter’s open side (for a right-handed hitter, this is slightly in front of and to the right).
• The tosser gently underhand tosses balls into the hitting zone.

To keep this from turning into mindless swinging, add simple targets:

• Use cones or buckets in the field of play.
• Challenge the hitter to drive 3 balls in a row toward a specific target (middle, pull side, opposite field).

This is a great example of a hitting drill for beginners because it combines tracking a moving ball with a clear, simple goal. It also teaches:

• Timing the load and stride.
• Matching the bat path to the ball’s path.
• Adjusting contact point to change direction.

Example of beginner front toss drill #5: controlled front toss with zones

Front toss is another one of the best examples of hitting drills for beginners because it feels a lot like real batting practice but with much more control.

Setup:

• The tosser stands or sits on a bucket about 15–20 feet in front of the hitter, slightly off to the side for safety.
• They underhand toss the ball into the strike zone.

To turn this into a skill-building drill instead of just “swing at everything,” use strike zone zones:

• Call out “top,” “bottom,” “in,” or “away” before the toss.
• Only toss to that part of the zone.
• Ask the hitter to track the ball and try to hit it where it’s pitched.

This is a real example of how to teach zone awareness without overcomplicating things for a beginner. It also begins to link vision, decision-making, and swing mechanics.

Safety and fatigue: keeping beginner hitting drills healthy

With any of these examples of hitting drills for beginners, especially soft toss and front toss, it’s smart to keep an eye on fatigue. Young arms and shoulders can tire quickly. Organizations like Mayo Clinic and CDC consistently point out that overuse injuries in youth sports often come from too many repetitive motions without enough rest (Mayo Clinic youth sports advice, CDC youth sports safety).

A simple rule of thumb for beginners:

• Short rounds of 8–12 quality swings.
• Take a break, reset, and focus on feel rather than sheer volume.

3. No-bat and dry-swing examples of hitting drills for beginners: 3 practical examples of movement training

Not every great hitting drill uses a bat and ball. In fact, some of the best examples of beginner hitting drills are no-bat or dry-swing drills. They strip away the pressure of contact and let the hitter feel good movement.

These drills are especially helpful for younger players who struggle with coordination, or for anyone rebuilding their swing.

Example of beginner drill #6: step-and-freeze load drill

This drill teaches a simple, repeatable load and stride.

How to run it:

• The hitter stands in their stance without a bat.
• On a clap or verbal cue, they take their normal stride toward the pitcher.
• At the end of the stride, they freeze and hold the position.

You’re looking for:

• Weight mostly centered or slightly back, not lunging forward.
• Front foot landing softly, not slamming.
• Hands (if they were holding a bat) staying back, not drifting forward.

This is a clear example of a hitting drill for beginners that builds rhythm and timing before you ever introduce a ball.

Example of beginner drill #7: wall drill for swing path

The wall drill is a classic, and it shows up in many of the best examples of hitting instruction because it gives instant feedback.

Setup:

• Stand facing away from a wall, about a bat’s length from it.
• Get into your stance with the bat held normally.
• Slowly take your swing.

If the knob of the bat works toward the ball and the barrel stays tight to the body, you’ll avoid hitting the wall. If the hitter “casts” the barrel out early, the bat will smack the wall.

This drill:

• Trains a short, direct path to the ball.
• Helps beginners feel the difference between a long, looping swing and a compact one.

It’s a simple, powerful example of a hitting drill for beginners that can be done in a garage, hallway, or backyard.

Example of beginner drill #8: dry swings with count and cue

Dry swings—swings without a ball—can be boring if they’re just “swing 20 times.” Instead, turn them into a focused movement session.

Try this pattern:

• Take 5 slow-motion swings, counting “1-load, 2-stride, 3-swing, 4-finish.”
• Then take 5 game-speed swings with the same rhythm in mind.

Give the hitter one simple cue per round, like:

• “Head still.”
• “Finish tall.”
• “Hands tight to the body.”

These dry swings are underrated examples of beginner hitting drills because they build muscle memory without the distraction of the ball. They also help beginners connect what they feel in slow motion to what happens at full speed.

How to organize these examples of hitting drills for beginners into a simple practice plan

Now that you’ve seen several examples of hitting drills for beginners: 3 practical examples and a handful of variations, the next question is: how do you put them together?

Here’s a simple 20–30 minute structure that works well for most youth players or brand-new adults:

Warm-up (5 minutes)
Use no-bat drills to wake up the body:

• Step-and-freeze load drill (5–8 reps).
• Dry swings with count and cue (2 short sets).

Tee work (10 minutes)
Rotate through the tee-based examples:

• Middle-middle contact tee work.
• Inside/outside tee variations.
• Balance and finish check.

Keep the focus on quality contact and a relaxed, repeatable swing.

Soft toss or front toss (10–15 minutes)
Finish with moving-ball drills:

• Side soft toss with targets.
• Front toss with strike zone zones.

End on a “win”: maybe a challenge like, “Hit 3 line drives in a row,” then call it a day. Stopping on a positive note builds confidence and makes beginners eager to come back.

In recent years (2024 and beyond), more youth programs and travel organizations have shifted toward shorter, higher-quality practices instead of long, grind-heavy sessions. That matches what sports medicine and child development research have been saying for a while: kids learn better and stay healthier when volume is reasonable and drills are focused.

FAQs: real examples of beginner hitting drill questions

What are some simple examples of hitting drills for beginners I can do at home?

Great at-home examples of hitting drills for beginners include:

• Tee work into a net or even into a blanket hung safely in the garage.
• Wall drill for swing path (with plenty of space and supervision).
• Dry swings with a light bat or even a broomstick.
• Step-and-freeze load drills in the backyard or living room.

All of these are quiet, low-space options that still build real hitting skills.

What is one example of a hitting drill that builds confidence fast?

A powerful example of a hitting drill for beginners that builds quick confidence is middle-middle tee work. Set the tee at a comfortable height, aim for line drives up the middle, and celebrate solid contact. Beginners see and feel success quickly, which makes them more willing to keep working on the harder stuff.

How often should beginners use these examples of hitting drills?

For most youth players, 2–3 short sessions per week using these examples of hitting drills for beginners is plenty. Think in terms of:

• 20–30 minutes per session.
• Fewer, higher-quality swings instead of hundreds of rushed swings.

This approach respects the body’s need for rest and recovery, which medical sources like NIH and Mayo Clinic highlight as important for growing athletes.

Do I need special equipment for these examples of hitting drills for beginners?

No. Most of these examples of hitting drills for beginners: 3 practical examples and their variations only require:

• A bat that fits the player.
• A bucket of balls or even soft training balls.
• A tee (or a DIY version) and some open space.

Soft toss and front toss can be done in a backyard or local field. Wall drills and dry swings can be done indoors with care and supervision.

Are these examples of hitting drills for beginners good for both baseball and softball?

Yes. All of the examples of hitting drills for beginners in this guide work for both baseball and softball. The core mechanics—balance, bat path, timing, and contact—are very similar. You might tweak tee height and pitch location slightly depending on the sport and the hitter’s size, but the drills themselves transfer perfectly.

If you stick with these real, practical examples of beginner hitting drills and keep the focus on fun, repetition, and small wins, you’ll see steady progress. No magic tricks, no overnight transformations—just simple, repeatable work that builds better swings over time.