High school
Hitting
All positions
Intermediate
Troy Snitker Split-the-Plate Drill – East-West Game Plan
Machine offset for right-handed pitcher; hitter commits to either the inner or outer half and only swings at the three-ball locations he has pre-selected.
- Skill:
- pitch selection, zone discipline
- Equipment:
- Bat / tee
- Duration:
- About 8 min
- Setting:
- Indoor
- Players:
- Solo
Coaching notes
Hitter places three balls on the half of the plate he is hunting. Random feeds (or fine-dial movement) force him to stay disciplined on that half while ignoring the opposite side.
Objectives
Train selective aggression and plate coverage discipline; practice executing a specific east-west game plan against pitchers who expand the zone.
Coaching cues
Commit to one half; only swing the three locations you set; take everything else; use video to confirm execution.
Common errors
Chasing the opposite half; expanding after a miss; losing the pre-set plan mid-round.
Steps
- 1. Set the Half — Place three balls on the inner or outer half the hitter will hunt.
- 2. Random Feeds — Machine moves in/out; hitter only swings the pre-selected locations.
- 3. Review — Use video to confirm the hitter stayed true to the plan.
