5 Batting Drills for Players Who Struggle with Timing

Many people probably struggle with batting timing. To improve your batting, it's essential to understand the appropriate "timing" that allows you to hit the ball with the sweet spot of the bat.

This article will explain in detail the reasons for poor batting timing and introduce effective practice methods for improvement. If you have trouble with timing, please use this as a reference.

【About the author of this blog】

Minoru Hirosaki, CEO of Amazing Co., Ltd., commonly known as Minoruman
Played for Hirakata Boys - Osaka Toin High School - Aichi University - JR Tokai's strong team
Won the Giants Cup, served as captain of Osaka Toin High School, and experienced winning the Meiji Jingu Tournament.
As a pioneer in baseball instruction, he boasts over 200,000 followers on YouTube and Instagram.

What Causes Poor Batting Timing?

From here, we will introduce the reasons for poor batting timing. The main reasons for poor timing are the following two:

・Late swing initiation

・Inability to create "separation"

To time your swing correctly in batting, it's important to prepare early. Early preparation allows you to see the ball longer. It's also crucial to create "separation" to prevent your body from lunging forward or opening up too early. If you want to know more about separation in batting, please read the following article. (Will be announced once published)

In batting, it's also important to have the mindset that "timing is something to be adjusted." Pitchers try to disrupt a batter's timing by throwing breaking balls or changing their pitching motion.

By having multiple ways to time your swing, you'll be able to handle any pitcher.

5 Practice Drills to Master Batting Timing

To master batting timing, consistent, high-quality practice is essential. Let's improve your batting by cultivating a sense of timing through the drills introduced below.

Drill 1: Deliberately Delayed Batting

First, start with a drill where you deliberately delay your timing. In this drill, you swing at a ball coming from the front at a slower timing than usual.

Practicing this drill will strengthen your ability to swing instantaneously, giving you more leeway when timing. This counterintuitive approach of delaying your timing will give you hints on how to time your swing.

Drill 2: Pitcher Synchronization Practice

Synchronizing with the pitcher is also highly effective.

Specifically, try lifting your leg when the pitcher lifts theirs, and lowering your leg when the pitcher lowers theirs, then swing. For a detailed explanation of this drill, please refer to the video below.

Initially, have someone throw the ball slowly or use badminton shuttlecocks to get accustomed to timing.

Drill 3: Toss Batting from a Distance

To develop a sense of timing, try practicing toss batting from a greater distance than usual.

While typical toss batting is done from a distance of 3m to 4m, for this drill, have someone throw from about 13m to 14m. For a detailed explanation of this drill, please refer to the video below.

In this drill, focus on starting your swing with ample time and hitting the ball at the point where you can generate the most power.

Drill 4: Batting with Verbal Cues

As a timing drill, it's also effective to swing while saying "1, 2, 3" aloud.

This drill is straightforward: swing at a ball coming from the front while counting "1, 2, 3" aloud, making contact on "3."

Although it's a simple drill, it helps you develop a sense of timing. If your timing is off, adjust by moving your foot towards the plate at the "2" count. This small adjustment is crucial for hitting breaking balls, so practice it consciously.

Drill 5: Close-Range Machine Batting

Close-range machine batting is also effective for practicing timing.

Try batting practice from about 5 meters away from the machine. The closer distance will increase the perceived speed, so you'll need to start your swing earlier to compensate. For a detailed explanation of this drill, please refer to the video below.

In this drill, focus on predicting the ball's trajectory before it's released from the machine and getting your bat into that trajectory.

[By Type] Professional Baseball Players' Timing Methods to Emulate

The way a batter times their swing varies from player to player. Understanding a batting form that suits your own feel will dramatically change how you time your swing.

Below, we introduce the timing methods of professional baseball players. Refer to a player whose batting style is similar to yours and research their timing technique.

Example 1: Hotaka Yamakawa (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks)

Hotaka Yamakawa, who plays for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, times his swing with a unique leg kick.

Hotaka Yamakawa incorporates a "motion-to-motion" timing method to maximize the power generated during his swing. He doesn't stop his body's movement and uses his legs to make fine timing adjustments, generating explosive power.

Also, Tomoya Mori, who plays for the Orix Buffaloes, uses a large leg lift to time his swing. If you time your swing by lifting your leg, please refer to this example.

Example 2: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Shohei Ohtani, who has achieved numerous feats in the MLB, hits many home runs with a "sliding foot batting style" that involves minimal extra movement.

The "sliding foot batting style" or "no-stride batting style" involves little lower body weight transfer, which reduces head movement and makes timing easier.

While fewer professional baseball players adopt the sliding foot batting style these days, it's a batting form with minimal waste. Therefore, if you struggle with timing, consider using it as a reference.

Example 3: Yoshihiro Maru (Yomiuri Giants)

Yoshihiro Maru, who plays for the Yomiuri Giants, times his swing with "bat movement."

Yoshihiro Maru's timing method is characterized by his emphasis on "interval." In sync with the pitcher's throwing motion, he moves the grip of his bat significantly downward before swinging.

Also, Norihiro Nakamura, who played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes and other teams, used bat movement to time his swing and create his own "interval."

If you find it difficult to time your swing using your feet, try referring to the batting forms of the players mentioned above.

Summary

If you're having trouble with batting timing, various factors could be at play, such as a late start or not being able to create "separation."

To find the timing method that works for you, consistent practice is essential. If you're unsure which drills to do, try the ones introduced in this article.

Also, the correct timing method varies for each batter. Refer to players who are active in the professional world and find a batting form that suits you.

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Utilize this item to achieve the ideal swing for hitting home runs.