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The Fence Drill

The classic fix for casting. When there is a fence in the way, the only swing that works is a short, direct one. Your body figures out the rest.

What it fixes

Casting means the hands push the barrel away from the body early in the swing, creating a long, looping path. A long path is slower to the ball, easier to beat with velocity, and produces weak contact on inside pitches. The fence drill removes the space a cast needs. If your swing is long, you hit the fence. Immediate, honest feedback on every rep.

How to do it

1. Stand facing a fence or net, about one bat length away. Measure it: knob touching your belly button, barrel end touching the fence.
2. Set up in your normal stance parallel to the fence, as if the pitcher is off to your side along it.
3. Take slow, controlled dry swings without letting the barrel touch the fence.
4. Feel your hands stay inside the ball and the barrel turn late, close to your body, instead of being pushed out and around.
5. Gradually build to game-speed swings. If you clip the fence, slow back down and rebuild the path.

Common mistakes

• Standing too far from the fence, which lets the old, long swing survive untouched.
• Chopping straight down to avoid the fence instead of turning the barrel on plane. The goal is short and direct, not steep.
• Rushing to full speed. Slow reps rewire the path; fast sloppy reps reinforce the problem.
• Pulling the front shoulder out early to create room. Keep the swing honest.

Coaching cue

Think "knob to the ball, barrel turns late." If you can swing hard without touching the fence, your path is playable against good velocity.