How to do the drill
- 1
Tape a strike zone on a net or wall: plate-wide (17 inches), from a batter's knees to mid-chest.
- 2
Stand at three-quarters of game distance: 17 steps (34 feet) from 46 feet, 19 (38 feet) from 50, 22 (45 feet) from 60 feet 6 inches.
- 3
Warm up with arm circles, band work and easy throws into the net.
- 4
Throw 20 from the stretch, with a breath after every 5. Count your strikes and log your total out of 20.
- 5
At 14+ strikes two sessions running, move to full distance: 23 steps (46 feet), 25 (50 feet) or 30 (60 feet 6 inches).
Coaching cues
- Eyes on the target.
- Same arm speed.
- Finish toward the target.
What good looks like
Two or three strikes in a row, the same arm speed every pitch, and misses close to the tape.
Safety
Every pitch counts. Pitch Smart (MLB and USA Baseball) daily limits: 50 pitches for ages 7–8, 75 for 9–10, 85 for 11–12, 95 for 13–16, 105 for 17–18. Ages 7–14 need no rest after 1–20 pitches and 1 day after 21–35; ages 15–18 need no rest after 1–30. Stopping at 20 keeps this a no-rest-day session. Fastballs and changeups only, no radar gun, and stop if the arm hurts.
Why this drill
Throwing strikes is what youth coaches want most from a pitcher. A taped zone and a count make every pitch mean something, and the shorter distance lets a young arm find the zone without overthrowing.
Next pitching drillChangeup Grip and Target →
