Baseball · Level 2: Elementary · Sub-level 2.1
Hitting
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown
Timing, seeing the ball, hitting to all fields, the two-strike approach, bunting, bat path and contact, common faults, off-speed pitches, hitting drills and the mental side at the plate.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1Timing and rhythmTake a test
Starting the load with the pitcher's motion syncs the hitter's rhythm with the pitch.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A ball fouled straight back means the bat met it just a little late or under it: nearly squared up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Swinging early at a slower pitch rolls the wrists over and produces weak pulled grounders.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A hitter sits on a pitch, often the fastball, and is ready to hit it if it comes.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A big leg kick takes time; against velocity, a smaller stride helps a hitter catch up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Keeping the bat in the path of the ball longer gives more chances to make solid contact.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Opening the front shoulder early drags the bat away from the ball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A hitter's rhythm mirrors the pitcher's delivery from leg lift to release.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The faster the pitch, the earlier the swing must begin.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Lifting the front foot as the pitcher moves is part of the hitter's timing mechanism.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 2Seeing the ballTake a test
Picking up the ball early from the release point gives the hitter more time.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A moving head makes the ball appear to jump, which makes it harder to hit.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A fastball and a breaking ball spin differently, and good hitters pick that up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Tracking means watching the ball from the hand as deep into the zone as possible.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
When the ball moves from sun into shadow, the eye has to adjust in a split second.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With two strikes, a shorter swing that puts the ball in play gives the defence a chance to err.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Saying 'fastball' or 'curve' early trains the hitter to recognise pitches before he commits.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
From a relaxed look to a sharp focus at release, then tracking the ball in.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Late break gives the hitter the least time to recognise the pitch.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Elite hitters keep their eyes down at the contact point as long as they can.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 3Hitting to all fieldsTake a test
The opposite field is the one away from the hitter's natural pull side.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Letting the outside pitch travel deeper lets the bat meet it heading the other way.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A predictable pull hitter lets the defence crowd the side he hits to.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
An inside pitch is met out in front, which sends it to the pull side.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Inside pitches are pulled, outside pitches go the other way.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Hitting through the middle means the bat is square to the ball with good timing.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
For a left-handed hitter, left field is the opposite field.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The farther outside the pitch, the later it is met and the more it goes the other way.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Many rounds work from the opposite field round to the pull side.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
For a right-handed hitter, right field is the opposite field.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 4The two-strike approachTake a test
A wider base and shorter grip mean less movement and a quicker bat.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Spoiling a good pitcher's pitch keeps the at-bat going until he makes a mistake.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
With two strikes he cannot let a borderline pitch go by and risk a called third strike.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Short swings give the hitter more time to decide and adjust.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Swinging and missing at strike three is a swinging strikeout.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A bunt that rolls foul with two strikes counts as the third strike.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Laying off balls and fouling off strikes turns a bad count into a full count.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Fouling off strikes and taking balls brings the count to his favour.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Many hitters shorten up as strikes add up.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A wider stance and choked grip are classic two-strike adjustments.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 5BuntingTake a test
Squaring to the pitcher gives the bat the best chance to meet the ball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Starting at the top lets the batter move down to the pitch and avoid popping it up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A soft bunt stays in front of the plate where it is hard to field in time.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A drag bunt is a surprise bunt for a hit, often by a fast left-handed hitter.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Bunting towards first makes the first baseman field it, away from second base.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
He accepts being out to move the runner up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The top hand slides up behind the barrel, fingers protected, to control the bat.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Square, slide the hand up, meet the ball softly, then run.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
The sacrifice gives up the out; the drag bunt is a try for a hit.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Holding the bat out level, top hand behind the barrel, is the bunting position.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 6Bat path and contactTake a test
Pitches come in on a slight downward angle; a good bat path meets them along that line.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Launch angle is the vertical angle of the batted ball off the bat.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Low angles give grounders, very high angles pop-ups, and the middle band line drives.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Exit velocity measures the speed of the batted ball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Dropping the barrel often leads to pop-ups and swings under the ball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Casting makes the swing long and slow, like casting a fishing line.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Hands leading inside the path of the ball keep the swing short and the barrel on plane.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Launch angle rises from grounders through liners and fly balls to pop-ups.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Hands lead, the barrel gets on plane, contact, then extension.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A ball leaving the bat at a modest upward angle travels on a line.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 7Common swing faultsTake a test
Stepping towards the dugout pulls the body away from outside pitches.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Pulling the head out takes the eyes off the ball at the key moment.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A long swing takes too much time to reach the hitting zone.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Early wrist roll turns the barrel over and produces weak grounders.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Lunging puts the weight on the front foot before the ball arrives.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Meeting the bottom half of the ball sends it straight up.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Video shows small flaws in stride, hands or head that the hitter does not notice.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A marker on the ground keeps the stride on line before he faces live pitching.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Early contact pulls the ball; late contact pushes it the other way.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Stepping away from the plate is called stepping in the bucket.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 8Hitting off-speed pitchesTake a test
Its arm action matches the fastball, so the hitter's timing is fooled.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
It is easier to slow down for a changeup than to speed up for a fastball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Letting the breaking ball come to him gives him time to see its break.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Sliders that break off the plate are meant to be chased; letting them go makes the pitcher come back.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A hanger stays up in the zone and is a hitter's chance to do damage.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Knowing a pitcher's patterns helps a hitter expect certain pitches in certain counts.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Swinging before the slow pitch arrives leaves the hitter out in front.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
The same arm action hides the slower speed until it is too late.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A four-seamer barely moves; curveballs usually break the most.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A breaking ball that floats over the plate without biting is a hanger.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 9Batting practice and drillsTake a test
Tee work lets a hitter groove his swing at a set height and location.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A coach, off to the side, tosses balls gently into the hitting zone.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A coach tosses underhand from short range behind a screen in front of the hitter.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Live at-bats against pitchers bring in real timing and pitch recognition.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A tee set high forces the hitter to stay on top of the ball.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Swinging with one hand at a time teaches what each hand does.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Changing speeds trains hitters to adjust like they must in games.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
From a still ball to tosses, then pitching, then live at-bats.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Loosen up, groove the swing, see live pitches, then get ready on deck.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Gentle tosses from the side are soft toss; front toss comes from behind a screen ahead.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Test 10The mental side at the plateTake a test
A plan narrows what the hitter looks for, based on the pitcher and the count.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Trying to hit a home run often makes the swing long and the timing poor.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A repeated routine settles the mind and gets the hitter ready.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
A .300 hitter makes an out about 70% of the time; handling failure is part of hitting.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Driving through the contact point gives the ball more carry.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Dwelling on one at-bat can spoil the next one.
Source: General baseball reference · recall
Preparation, a plan, a routine, then reflection.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
In a hitter's count he waits for his pitch rather than chase.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
A short routine between pitches helps a hitter reset and focus.
Source: General baseball reference · applied
Sources
General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.
- General baseball reference100