All you need is a ball and a wall

My elementary school playground. There is no telling how many hours I spent there practicing by myself.

I was fortunate to grow up in a house right next to an elementary school.  Anytime I got bored I would walk up and throw a ball against one of the brick walls that were part of the school.  The picture to the right shows two of the walls I would use.  With the amount of balls that I threw up against those bricks, it’s amazing the walls are still standing.  Hugh Alexander, a famous scout, once said the best thing a father can do for his son in terms of baseball is to build him a wall to throw against.  I could not agree more.  I mentioned in a previous post that a friend of mine at Mississippi State created a video called Wall Ball.  In it are suggestions and drills for using a pitch-back screen.  Below are some advantages to using any type of wall and also tips to getting the most out of it.


Advantages:

A great indoor option if you have access.  Do not hurt the wall or the floor with the balls!

• You can practice by yourself
• Every position on the field can be practiced – just use your imagination
• Develops arm strength
• Not much space is needed
• Develops pitching accuracy
• If there are lights (mine did), you can throw day or night 
• Can practice year round.  A few times I brought a snow shovel!

Perfect!  Even has a strike zone.

Tips to using a wall:

• Throw at varying distances – short toss to long toss if space permits
• A rubber pitching machine style ball works best.  Leather balls get torn up.
• Use different sizes and types of balls to develop soft hands, quick reactions, and eye-hand coordination. Tennis balls, racquet balls, super balls, Super Pinkies, and golf balls are all fair game and work great against a wall. 
• Use your glove and just your bare hands at times too.
• Use a training glove or pick up a paddle at the dollar store to develop proper two-hand fielding.
• If you are able to use an indoor gym wall, be sure to use balls that do not mark up the wall or the floor.