Baseball throwing drills
Arm path, footwork and accuracy drills a youth player can do at home, with or without a ball.
How coaches assign drills- 4 drills
- 2 with no partner needed
- Every drill has a video clip
- 5–15 minutes each
4 baseball throwing drills
Throwing0:57Pitching Towel Drill
FixesShort strides and letting go of the ball too early
- 5 min
- Ages 8–18
3 sets of 10 reps, 4–6 days a week
Throwing1:12Crow Hop Throws
FixesFlat-footed, arm-only long throws
- With a partner
- 15 min
- Ages 8–18
4 sets of 5 throws, 2 days a week
Throwing1:10Right-Left-Throw Footwork
FixesStanding still after the catch and throwing with only the arm
- 10 min
- Ages 8–18
3 sets of 10 throws, 3 days a week (2 sets for players under 10)
Throwing0:50Long Toss Program
FixesThrows that run out of steam before they reach the base
- With a partner
- 15 min
- Ages 11–18
One session of about 20–35 throws (by age, warm-up included), 1–2 days a week with a day off in between
How to use these baseball throwing drills
Common throwing problems in young players
- Throwing with the feet square to the target.
- Pushing the ball from the ear.
- Letting the elbow drop below the shoulder.
Each of those costs accuracy and velocity and puts more stress on the elbow and shoulder.
Where to start
- Start with the towel drill. A player holds a hand towel like a ball and snaps it at a target about head high.
- There is no ball, so it works in a living room, and there is almost no stress on the arm, so it is safe to do most days.
- Outside, playing catch with a purpose is the best throwing drill there is. Pick a target on the partner's chest, turn the glove side to the target, step and finish every throw.
Warm-up and how often
- Warm the arm up before throwing a ball, starting close and backing up. A band routine like the band arm care routine takes about eight minutes.
- Keep hard throwing to a few days a week with rest days in between.
- Count throws on days he also pitches.
- Follow up with the fielding drills to add a quick transfer before the throw.
Baseball throwing drills FAQ
How can I practice baseball throwing at home?
The towel drill works indoors with no ball. Stand sideways to a target, take the towel down, back and up, step and turn, and snap it out in front. Outside, play catch with a parent at a distance where the throws stay accurate, and aim every throw at the chest.
How can a youth baseball player throw more accurately?
Most wild throws start with the feet. Turn the glove shoulder to the target, step straight at it and finish with the throwing shoulder pointing at the target. Pick a small target on every throw during catch, and back up only when most throws hit it.
How often should youth baseball players do throwing drills?
The towel drill is light enough for four to six days a week. Throwing a baseball hard needs rest days in between, and pitchers should count drill throws on the days they pitch. Warm up with bands or easy catch first, and stop if the elbow or shoulder hurts.
More baseball drills by skill
- Baseball hitting drills8 drills
Tee work and soft toss for a short, balanced swing that stays through the ball. Most of these need a tee, a net and a bucket of balls.
- Baseball fielding drills8 drills
Ground balls off a wall, short hops, quick transfers and fly ball footwork. A glove, a wall and a few tennis balls cover most of it.
- Baseball pitching drills4 drills
Overhand pitching mechanics and strike throwing into a net or to a parent catcher, with pitch counts that follow Pitch Smart.
- Baseball catcher drills4 drills
Blocking, receiving and footwork for youth catchers, most of it with a wall and a bucket of tennis balls.
- Baseball speed and arm care drills3 drills
First-step starts, home-to-first sprints, leads on the bases and a band routine to warm up the arm before throwing.
Assign baseball drills to your team
Use the drills in this library or make your own. Coaches assign them as homework between practices, and players open each drill on their phone, do it and check in when they finish.
Get the Bravara app- 01
Pick drills or make your own
Start from the baseball drills in this library, copy one and change it, or write your own with steps, a YouTube video, your own photos and videos or a link to read. Then assign it to the whole team or to certain players and set how many days a week.
- 02
Players do them at home
Players open the drill on their phone, watch the video or read the steps, do the drill and check in when they finish. They can upload a video of their work too.
- 03
Players log a result
A drill can have one result to track, like strikes out of 30. Results stay private to the player and their family, and players earn XP and levels as they keep checking in.
- 04
The coach sees who did it
Coaches see who has checked in on each drill and can react or reply to a player's check-in.
Assign baseball throwing drills with Bravara Reps
Coaches assign drills to the team or to certain players. Players check in from home, log a result and earn XP as they go.
