Middle-Away Line Drive

What it is for

Establish the primary Coach Bass hitting direction.

What you're learning

Focus on middle and away; react on an inside pitch. In Coach Bass's words: "If you're looking middle and away, you will not roll over or hit the pop up because you are looking at attack location versus just swinging and hoping you hit it."

Setup

Place the ball or toss at a middle-away location. Use a middle or opposite-field visual target.

How to do it

Drive the ball through the middle or opposite side with firm line-drive intent. Reset the approach before every repetition.

Coaching cues

• Right-handed hitters: take the second baseman's cap off.
• Left-handed hitters mirror the intent through the shortstop side.
• Stay behind the ball.
• Drive through the ball instead of guiding it.

Common mistakes

• Pulling off the ball.
• Reaching for the ball.
• Rolling over.
• Trying to guide the ball softly.

What the hitter should look for

Line drives toward that middle-of-the-field direction instead of pulled-off contact, with the momentum going toward the second baseman (right-handed hitter) or the shortstop (left-handed hitter).

What Mom/Dad should watch for

The ball tells you what the hitter is doing. Foul balls straight up and weak pulled contact are the patterns of going out to get the ball.

Equipment

• bat
• balls
• tee