Conquer Your Fear: Turning on the Inside Fastball
Many hitters struggle with the inside fastball. It’s fast, it’s intimidating, and if you’re not prepared, it can jam you, leading to weak ground balls or pop-ups. But learning to handle the inside pitch is crucial for becoming a complete hitter. This post will give you the drills and techniques to not only handle the inside pitch but to crush it!
Why the Inside Pitch is Challenging (And How to Overcome It)
The inside pitch presents unique challenges:
- Shorter Reaction Time: The ball gets to you quicker, requiring faster decision-making and bat speed.
- Tight Swing Path: You need to keep your hands inside the ball and avoid ‘casting’ your swing, which is a common error.
- Fear Factor: Let’s be honest, getting hit by a pitch is never fun. Overcoming the fear of the inside pitch is a mental battle.
The key is to develop a compact swing, quick hands, and a proactive approach.
Drills to Master the Inside Pitch
1. The ‘Inside-Out’ Tee Drill
Purpose: Develop a feel for staying inside the ball and driving it to the opposite field.
- Set the tee up on the inside part of the plate, slightly ahead of your front foot.
- Focus on keeping your hands inside the ball and driving the ball to the opposite field (right field for right-handed hitters, left field for left-handed hitters).
- Start with slow swings, focusing on technique, then gradually increase bat speed.
- Repeat 15-20 Swings.
2. Short Bat Drill
Purpose: Develop Quick Hands, and a quicker bat path.
- Use a smaller/lighter bat than you game bat.
- Have a coach or teammate soft toss from a 45 degree angle, inside pitch location.
- Focus on hitting the ball as hard as possible while maintaning a quick bat path.
- Repeat 15-20 Swings.
3. The ‘Quick Hands’ Soft Toss Drill
Purpose: Improve reaction time and hand-eye coordination.
- Have a coach or teammate soft toss from a short distance (about 15-20 feet).
- The tosser should mix up locations, but primarily focus on the inside part of the plate.
- Focus on seeing the ball early and reacting quickly with your hands.
- Don’t worry about hitting the ball perfectly, just make solid contact.
- Repeat 15-20 Swings.
The Mental Game: Embrace the Inside Pitch
Don’t be afraid to get aggressive! The inside pitch is often a strike, and a good one to hit. Visualize yourself turning on the ball and driving it with power. A confident approach is half the battle.
Practice these drills consistently, and you’ll transform your weakness into a strength. You’ll be turning on those inside fastballs and driving them for extra-base hits in no time! Get out there and start practicing!
