Your child is new to hitting, and you want to help without turning the backyard into a battle. Good news: beginners don't need fancy gear or long practices. They need the right drills, in the right order, with one simple cue at a time.
Start beginners with balance and a ready position, then the tee, soft toss, a tracking game, short front toss with soft balls, and a fun scoring game. Keep sessions about 15 minutes, use one cue per drill, and move up only when the current drill looks easy.
Train it: Complete Contact Builder (Level 2 Hitting, $49) → Free: Free Hitting Intro Course →Why the order of beginner drills matters
Most young hitters get frustrated for one reason: they're asked to hit a moving ball before they can stand balanced and swing the same way twice. That's like asking someone to ride a bike before they can sit on it.
So we build it in steps. Each drill earns the next one. If a drill looks easy and your child is smiling, move up. If they're struggling, slide back a step. There's no rush, and going back a step is not a failure. It's coaching.
A few safety basics before you start: use soft or foam balls, give the swing lots of space, keep everyone well away from the hitter, and have an adult run every drill. Stop if anything hurts.
The 6 beginner hitting drills, in order
- Ready and balanced (no ball): Feet a little wider than the shoulders, knees soft, bat up, eyes on you. Have your child take 5 slow swings and hold the finish for a count of 3. Cue: "Finish and freeze." Move on when they can hold the finish without falling over.
- Tee basics: Set the tee about belt high, in front of the front hip. Take 10 easy swings, aiming to hit the ball straight back up the middle. Cue: "Eyes on the ball." Move on when most swings make solid contact. Our batting tee drills for kids post shows how to set the tee up.
- Soft toss from the side: Kneel off to the side and a little in front, safely away from the swing path, and toss a soft ball underhand into the hitting zone. 10 tosses. Cue: "See it, then swing." Move on when they're hitting most tosses.
- Catch-and-see tracking game: No bat. Toss soft balls and have your child call out the color or a number you've written on the ball before catching it. 10 tosses. Cue: "Watch it all the way in." This trains the eyes for the next step.
- Short front toss with soft balls: Stand behind a screen or net if you have one, close enough to toss underhand gently, using foam or soft balls only. 10 tosses. Cue: "Get ready early." Move on when they're on time more often than not.
- The fun game: Mark zones in the yard: a grounder is 1 point, a line drive is 2. Play to 10. Cue: "Hit it hard and have fun." Always end the session here.
Notice that each drill gets just ONE cue. Kids can only fix one thing at a time, so pick the one that matters most and let the rest go for today.
A simple 15-minute beginner hitting session
| Minutes | Drill | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Ready and balanced | Feel the athletic stance |
| 2–6 | Tee basics | Solid contact, up the middle |
| 6–9 | Soft toss | See it, then swing |
| 9–11 | Catch-and-see | Train the eyes |
| 11–15 | The fun game | End on a smile |
For a first-season player, skip short front toss until tee and soft toss feel easy. Fifteen good minutes, two or three times a week, beats an hour once a week that ends in tears. For more ideas you can do in the yard, see our youth baseball hitting drills at home.
When is my child ready to move up?
- Balance first: they can swing hard and still hold the finish.
- Contact second: most swings hit the ball, even if it isn't far.
- Confidence always: they ask to keep going. That's your green light.
- Back up when needed: if swings get wild or tears show up, return to the tee. That's normal.
Softball beginners use the same order. Just use a softball-size soft ball and toss from the side. Check your league's rules for tee and coach-pitch details, since they vary.
Where to go after the beginner drills
When these six feel easy, your child is ready for a real plan. Start free with our Hitting Intro Course: seven short parent-led lessons with game challenges. When you want more, the Complete Contact Builder is our Level 2 hitting program, with 16 sessions over four weeks for $49, and Lesson 1 is free.
Keep it short, keep it fun, and celebrate the little wins. It's a great day to hit!!
One thing to remember
One drill, one cue, and always end on a smile.
What to do this week
Run the 15-minute session two or three times this week. Start with balance and the tee, and only add soft toss when the tee feels easy.
Parent questions
What age should kids start hitting drills?
Many kids can start simple balance and tee drills around ages 4 to 6. Keep it short and playful, and follow your child's interest rather than a calendar.
Should beginners hit off a tee or soft toss first?
Start with the tee. It lets your child learn a balanced swing and solid contact before adding a moving ball. Add soft toss once tee contact feels easy.
How long should a beginner hitting practice be?
About 10 to 15 minutes is plenty for most beginners. Short, focused sessions a few times a week work better than one long practice.