Front toss and short toss behind a screen

Setup

1. Front toss: place an L-screen about 5 m in front of home plate. The feeder sits on a bucket behind the short side of the L, fully covered.
2. Short toss: place a second L-screen about 9–10 m from the plate. The feeder stands behind it and throws overhand at medium pace.
3. The batter wears a helmet. The on-deck batter waits well outside the swing zone, also in a helmet. No one walks in front of or behind the hitter.
4. Fielders shag in the infield, standing back at their normal depth. In a cage, hit into the net instead.
5. Feeders warm up the arm before short toss and swap out after two or three buckets.

How it runs

1. Round 1, front toss: the feeder tosses underhand to the front of the plate, at about belt height.
2. The batter hits line drives back up the middle. The feeder tucks behind the screen the moment the ball leaves the hand.
3. Each batter takes 8–10 swings, then swaps with the on-deck batter. Rotate batter, on-deck, fielders and feeder.
4. Round 2, short toss: the feeder moves back to the second screen and throws firm, overhand strikes. Same 8–10 swings.
5. Round 3: the feeder calls a target before each pitch (middle, pull side or opposite field) and the batter tries to hit it there.

Coaching points

• Balanced stance, weight on the inside of the back foot, hands near the back shoulder.
• Small, soft stride, landing with the front foot closed. The hands stay back as the foot lands.
• Hips start the swing, then the hands take a short path: knob to the ball, barrel through it.
• Contact out in front of the front hip, with the head still and eyes on the ball.
• Feeder: consistent, firm tosses. Any toss that misses the zone is let go, not swung at.

Common mistakes

• Feeder stepping out from the screen to toss, or watching the ball instead of ducking behind the screen.
• Batter lunging forward with the head on the stride.
• Casting the hands away from the body, so the barrel drags.
• Swinging up at every pitch and hitting weak fly balls.
• Fielders standing too close or wandering in front of the screens.