Week 1 Facility Practice — Hitting: The Hinge

Last updated Sep 17, 2026

September 3, 2026 · Mike

Practice Length: 1 hour

Primary Focus: The hinge in the swing — the hands and bat working together with the body. A good hinge sets the bat angle early so the hitter matches plane with the pitch longer, and keeps the barrel behind the ball rather than chopping down or casting out. Cues: hide the belt, booty back, chest over, head over home, butt back and bend.

Equipment: 6–8 tees (5 Tool provides 3 — bring extras). 1 bucket dimple balls, 1 bucket smash balls (or another dimple), driveline balls (or regular), 2 buckets regular balls. Hack Attack + Hack Attack Jr.

Start	End	Min	Activity	Organization / Setup	Key Coaching Points	Coach Notes
5PM	5:15PM	15	Tee Work Warm-Up — Movement of the Day: Step-Back Drill	Step-back drill x10 swings, then 10 swings middle. Land the back foot where the tee is — slightly out front for a middle pitch. Stepping back to land loads the back hip; make the forward move staying in the hinge with hands back.	Look at a pretend pitcher, then transfer the eyes down to contact. We want repeatable habits — we would never stare at contact in an at-bat.	Ball: tee.
5:15PM	5:23PM	8	Hack Attack — Auto Feeder	Inside half of the plate for right-handed hitters. Hitting balls up the middle, not pull side.	7 swings and out. As many times through the group as possible in the 8 minutes.	Ball: dimple.
5:23PM	5:31PM	8	Hack Attack — Coach Fed	Curve-ball setting. Keep chest over, hold posture, drive to right-center gap. Should not be going pull side.	7 swings and out. As many times through the group as possible in the 8 minutes.	Ball: dimple or smash balls.
5:31PM	5:39PM	8	Step-Back Drill — Front Toss	Same as the tee warm-up drill. Step back, load while making the move forward, stay in the hinge and keep hands back.	First 7 swings drill. Next 7 alternate drill-to-front-toss. Third round just front toss.	Ball: driveline balls.
5:39PM	5:47PM	8	Feet-Together Drill — Front Toss	Feet together, emphasis on booty back to start. As they move forward, stay in the hinge and keep hands back.	First 7 swings drill. Next 7 alternate drill-to-front-toss. Third round just front toss.	Ball: regular balls.
5:47PM	5:55PM	8	Medicine-Ball Movements + Tee Work	Partner med-ball toss: step back x3 each way, load and rotate x3 each way, shuffle and rotate x3 each way. Remaining time: tee work hitting balls up the middle.	Coaches supervise if possible. Make sure they stay low and athletic.	Ball: regular balls.

Repeatable habits — same look, same move, every rep. Look at a pretend pitcher first, then transfer the eyes down to contact. Stay behind the ball and in your hinge.

Homework for the week

Send in video of the last 5 of each swing.
25 step-backs, 25 feet-together, 25 middle-in, 25 middle-out.

Make sure players understand contact points with the tee, and keep working the “look at the pretend pitcher, then eyes transfer down at contact” habit.