How to help kids learn and have fun with baseball's "pepper drill"

In my youth it was a joy to play the game called, "pepper." How often do you see little league players take a called strike smack-down the middle of the plate? There is a reason for this and it's usually because most little leaguers never swing too early and too many of them swing late. This is the reason there are so many strikeouts in little league games.

Timing of the swing is the secret. If the batter is going to hit the ball in front of the plate, he or she must be able to start the swing soon enough so that the bat reaches its maximum speed and power as the ball reaches the appropriate point in front of the plate. The only thing that will do this is practice and more practice. The old game of "pepper" conditions the perfect timing. It is the best drill I have ever seen that teaches "how to hit the ball out in front."

The game usually involved three or four infielders and a batter. The game is only limited by the number of kids available. The game goes like this:

1. The fielders throw the ball back to the batter overhand and at half speed.
2. The batter hits the ball back with a half bunting type stroke.
3. Both fielders and batter attempt to keep play going for as long as possible without a miss of either parties.
4. Have them count the number of balls hit before a string is broken.

This drill is good for the batter as it develops good eye-hand coordination and practice in quick-response fielding all in one drill. You can have four games of pepper going on at the same time. One group could be stationed at home plate, the second at first base, the third at second base, and the final group at third base.

When performing the drill in this group formation, have the batter and a catcher with their backs to the pitcher's mound. This way, a manager can safely position himself at the pitcher's mound and observe each group.