8 Baseball Drills to Do at Home by Yourself This Summer

During the summer, baseball and softball hitters often find themselves without a batting cage, field… or even a partner. But they still want to get their swings in!

One of the most common questions we receive from players and parents alike is "What are some baseball drills to do at home by yourself?"

If you can relate, then today’s video is for you!  

Coach Megan Rembielak, former Division-1 collegiate shortstop from Appalachian State University, doesn’t waste words. In this 2-minute video, she gets straight to the point, sharing the how and (more importantly) the WHY for each of these 8 baseball hitting drills to do at home by yourself.

Coach Megan Rembielak, former Division-1 collegiate shortstop from Appalachian State University, doesn’t waste words. In this 2-minute video, she shares the how and (more importantly) the WHY for each of these 8 hitting drills.

WATCH:  8 drills you can do AT HOME — without a partner — to become a better hitter.  (Watch Time: 2 Minutes)

Video Transcript

Here are some hitting drills you can do at home by yourself.

I'm going to start with Happy Gilmore. I like to begin with this drill because it helps me get loose. I'll set up in my normal stance back behind the plate. To execute the drill, I'll take my back foot and cross it behind my front foot in a slow, deliberate motion. The key is to stay in my legs and maintain a controlled pace.

Moving on to the next drill, I'll go for extra width in my stance. My feet will be spread wider apart, and I'll focus on isolating my upper body, leaving my lower half out of the equation. This allows me to concentrate solely on my hand path, ensuring that my hands remain inside the ball and enabling me to hit to the opposite field. Throughout this drill, I'll continue to emphasize the importance of proper hand placement.

Now, I'll introduce a drill where I stop at the point of contact. During this drill, I'll employ a split grip, positioning my top hand higher than my bottom hand. As I drive my hands towards the ball, the bottom hand will take the lead, guiding the swing. Additionally, I'll focus on extending my arms and maintaining the correct grip. The goal here is to ensure that the top hand follows through, directing the barrel of the bat back towards the pitcher.

Next, I'll move on to the "flamingo" drill. This exercise involves finding balance on my back leg for a brief period, roughly two to three seconds. As I initiate my stride, I'll make a conscious effort to separate my hands from my body. When my front foot makes contact with the ground, I'll generate explosive power through the ball.

Shifting to tee placement, I'll start with the inside tee. Upon landing my front foot, the ball on the tee should align with it. It's crucial to avoid allowing the ball to get too deep, which could lead to jamming myself while swinging. Transitioning to the outside tee, the ball's position should be on the inside of my front foot upon landing. If the ball is too far out, I risk making contact at the bat's end.

One of my favorite drills follows, known as the high tee drill. The main focus here is to maintain higher hand positioning than the ball. Dropping my hands could result in getting under the ball, causing it to pop up. The aim is to consistently hit line drives during this drill.

Proceeding to the low tee drill, I'll need to maintain some tilt in my shoulders. This setup accommodates the ball's position, which is roughly even with my knees. The shoulder tilt allows me to effectively reach the low pitch and make solid contact.

Finally, I'll wrap up with a simple ball-tossing drill. This exercise enhances hand-eye coordination, as I'm hitting a moving target. The primary objective remains the same – hitting line drives consistently with each swing.

Incorporating these drills into your practice routine can significantly enhance your hitting mechanics and overall performance.

Equipment Used in This Video

For your convenience, here’s how to find the equipment Megan used in her video:

• Tanner Heavy - The Tanner Heavy features a unique claw-shaped heavy base patented base design that offers unmatched stability anywhere, including a raised home plate or uneven grass.
• Tanner Portable Hitting Net - This durable 7’ x 7’ pop-up net has a sock design to catch balls during batting practice and tee work.  When you’re finished, it quickly breaks down and fits into the convenient carrying case that's included.
• Training Balls - Baseballs, softballs, heavy balls, limited flight balls, mini baseballs, and more.

Want more content from Coach Megan?  You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube or visit MegRemSoftball.com

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