24d • General discussion
How Can I Improve Their Reaction Time on Hard Hits?
Fast reaction time isn't just about natural athleticism—it's a skill you can train. Here are 2-3 simple, effective ways to help your infielders react quicker to hard-hit balls:
1. Shorten the Distance, Increase the Reps
Why It Works: The closer you are, the faster you must react. Training at short distances forces the brain and body to process information and respond instantly.
How to Do It:
- Start at 20-30 feet (instead of normal infield distance)
- Use a fungo bat or soft toss to hit ground balls and line drives directly at players
- Focus on quick hands, fast feet, and instinctive reactions—not perfect form
- Hit 15-20 balls rapid-fire with minimal rest between reps
Progression:
- Week 1: 20 feet, moderate speed
- Week 2: 30 feet, increase speed
- Week 3: 40 feet, game-speed hits
- Week 4: Full distance with confidence
Coaching Cue: "Don't think—just react. Your body knows what to do."
Why It Works: Short-distance reps build muscle memory and train the brain to process fast-moving balls without hesitation. By the time they're at full distance, their reactions are automatic.
2. Use Tennis Balls and Reaction Drills
Why It Works: Tennis balls are smaller, lighter, and harder to track—forcing players to focus intensely and react faster. They also remove fear since they don't hurt.
Drills to Try:
A. Two-Ball Drill
- Coach holds two tennis balls
- Player gets in ready position
- Coach drops or tosses one ball randomly—player must react and catch it before the second bounce
- Increases hand-eye coordination and quick decision-making
B. Wall Reaction Drill
- Player stands 10 feet from a wall
- Throw a tennis ball hard against the wall
- Player fields the unpredictable rebound
- Builds reaction speed to bad hops and quick redirects
C. Rapid-Fire Tennis Ball Grounders
- Hit tennis balls rapid-fire from 20-30 feet
- Player fields as many as possible in 30 seconds
- Rest, then repeat
- Builds quick hands and eliminates hesitation
Coaching Cue: "Eyes on the ball. Quick feet. Soft hands. Let's go!"
Why It Works: Tennis balls force players to track smaller, faster objects—making regular baseballs feel easier. The unpredictability trains instinctive reactions.
3. Ready Position + "Hot Potato" Mentality
Why It Works: Many players react slowly because they're not in an athletic ready position when the ball is hit. Teaching proper stance and a "hot potato" approach eliminates wasted movement.
How to Teach It:
A. Athletic Ready Position
- Feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet
- Glove low and out in front
- Eyes locked on the hitter
Coaching Cue: "Before every pitch: feet ready, knees bent, glove down. Be a coiled spring ready to explode."
B. "Hot Potato" Drill
- Players pair up 15 feet apart
- Rapid-fire throws back and forth—catch and release as fast as possible
- No winding up, no hesitation—just quick exchanges
- Do this for 60 seconds, rest, repeat
Progression:
- Add movement: shuffle left, catch, throw; shuffle right, catch, throw
- Add ground balls: field, quick release, throw
Why It Works: Quick hands and fast exchanges train the body to react and release without overthinking. The ready position ensures they're always prepared to move.
Bonus: Pre-Pitch Routine
Teach players to use a pre-pitch hop or bounce right as the pitcher releases:
- Small hop or weight shift forward as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand
- Gets them moving and ready to react instantly
- Eliminates flat-footed, slow starts
Coaching Cue: "Hop when the pitcher releases. Stay moving. Dead feet = slow reactions."
Bottom Line: Reaction Time = Distance + Reps + Ready Position
Improve reaction time with:
- Short-distance, high-rep drills – Train the brain to react faster
- Tennis ball reaction drills – Build focus, hand-eye coordination, and instincts
- Athletic ready position + quick hands – Eliminate wasted movement and hesitation
Fast reactions aren't born—they're built through smart training.
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How Can I Improve Their Reaction Time on Hard Hits?
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