Ladder Drill

Contributed By: Kent Carroll

Equipment: JUGS Pitching Machine, Standard Batting Cage, Machine Balls, Four (4) Throw Down Home Plates, and Bats

Procedure :

1. Set the pitching machine for a low-medium speed for your age group.
2. Stagger the four home plates at 40 feet, 35 feet, 30 feet, and 25 feet from the pitching machine.

   Very Important: Always keep safety in the forefront. Remember to line each home plate up with the pitching machine before each batter steps into the batter’s box so that the ball is always thrown in the strike zone.
   
   It is important to throw two or three test balls from the pitching machine before the batter steps up to the next home plate. This will help ensure the ball is always being thrown in the strike zone. This is necessary to prevent serious injury to the batter.

3. Players start at the back (40 feet) home plate. If they hit the ball solid, they get to move up to the next home plate (35 feet) for their next swing. If they are successful there, they can move up to the next home plate and so on. When the players get all the way to the front home plate (25 feet) they must then work all the way back to the back home plate again.

This helps players by :

1. Players must increase their reaction time as they move closer to the pitching machine.
2. Players cannot start “timing” the ball, but must adjust to each distance.
3. When retreating from the “close” home plate to home plates farther back, the batters must learn to “wait” on the ball.
4. As the players move up and back, the height of the ball changes slightly to teach the batters to hit pitches at various heights.

This helps the coaches by:

1. Coach can let players get all different heights and reaction times on balls without having to constantly having to adjust the pitching machine speed and location.
2. Players at different skill levels can work on distances that are challenging for them without getting bored. (For example, if the pitching machine is set slow for weaker players.)

Variations:

1. Players can hit three balls at each distance before advancing or retreating.
2. Patterns can be given to a player to perform. (For example, to teach a player to wait on a change-up the coach could have the player alternate between 25 feet and 40 feet.)

Remember safety first!