Front toss is live pitching at a comfortable speed. The ball is still coming slow and straight, but now the kid has to time it and track it. This is the first step toward game-speed pitching.
What you need: 20 soft baseballs (11”), coach position, an age-appropriate bat, a fence or net.
Setup: Coach stands 20 feet in front of the batter. Batter in Set position with bat ready.
How to run it:
- Coach tosses the ball underhand at belt height, straight down the middle.
- Batter focuses on Set, Load, Step, Swing. One cue per round.
- Do 10 tosses. Round one focus on Step. Count how many swings hit the ball.
- Do 10 more. Round two focus on Swing. Does it feel smooth or jerky?
- Switch sides. Coach throws to the opposite side of the plate. Do 10 more.
What to watch: Is the batter swinging at all pitches or waiting? Waiting teaches discipline. Does the head stay still during the swing?
If they’re struggling: Stand 15 feet away. Toss softer. Move the ball to the middle of the plate.
If they’ve got it: Move to 25 feet. Toss slightly faster. Move the ball to different zones (high, low, inside, outside).