You’ve spent the entire offseason working on your swing—hundreds, maybe thousands of reps. You’ve trained in the cage, practiced in the garage, and hit off the tee until your hands were sore. Everything feels solid in practice. But then game time comes, and suddenly, things don’t click.
Maybe your timing feels off. Maybe you’re just a fraction late on most pitches or barely missing the sweet spot. Or maybe that power you expected just isn’t showing up.
If that sounds familiar, don’t panic—and whatever you do, don’t start overhauling your mechanics midseason. You can’t fix your swing in a day, and honestly, you probably don’t need to. What’s missing isn’t your form—it’s your game-readiness.
Why a “Practice Swing” Doesn’t Always Translate
It’s one of the most common frustrations for hitters: the swing that feels great in practice doesn’t quite hold up under live pitching. The reason is simple—batting practice is controlled and predictable. You’re relaxed, your timing is consistent, and you know what’s coming. But real game situations are fast, unpredictable, and full of adrenaline.
The difference between a “training swing” and a “game swing” comes down to efficiency. Just like a boxer can’t take a big windup before throwing a punch in the ring, a hitter can’t afford wasted movement when facing live velocity. You have to be quick, compact, and explosive.
That’s exactly what the Net Drill helps develop.
The Drill That Changed My Spring Training
Back in 2009, during spring training with the Yankees, I was facing this exact problem. I’d spent months working on my swing, but when I stepped into the cage against live arms, it felt long—just a bit too slow to the ball.
One morning, around 6:30 a.m., I was in one of the cages getting early work in. Our hitting coach at the time, Kevin Long, had a few players running through a simple but powerful exercise—the Net Drill. I noticed some of the team’s biggest names using it, including Robinson Cano. Curious, I decided to give it a try.
The concept was simple, but the effect was immediate. Within a few reps, my swing felt tighter and quicker. The excess movement I’d built up from months of hitting off slow tosses disappeared. My barrel stayed in the zone longer, and I felt more connected from load to contact.
Why the Net Drill Works
The Net Drill forces you to eliminate unnecessary movement. By positioning a net or screen just a few feet in front of you and hitting off a tee, you have to stay short to the ball—there’s no room for a long, looping swing. The setup teaches you to get to contact faster while maintaining barrel control through the zone.
This drill acts as a bridge between offseason practice and live game at-bats. It helps you find that game-ready feel faster—without needing weeks of adjustment once real pitching starts.
When I first used it, I didn’t have the luxury of “warming up” over a dozen spring training games. I had to be ready to hit right away. This drill made that possible.
Turning Frustration into Confidence
Few things are more discouraging than spending months refining your swing, only to feel lost in your first game at-bat. The Net Drill can change that. It helps you transition from controlled practice swings to competitive, explosive game swings—where your timing, rhythm, and mechanics come together under pressure.
If your swing feels just a little off, or you’re struggling to square up live pitching, try this drill. It won’t just tighten your mechanics—it’ll help you step into the box confident and game-ready, ready to do real damage when it counts.
