Private hitting lessons for kids
Less about the perfect swing, more about the hitter's head and hands. Written by a coach who has taught more than 25,000 private lessons.
By Isaac Hess, founder of CageList and MADE Baseball. Updated October 4, 2026.
A good private hitting lesson works on where the hands start, a simple plan for every at bat, and getting enough quality swings that it sticks. If a coach spends the hour on a new gadget or a new bat, they are fixing the wrong thing.
01
It usually comes back to the hands
Most of the hitting lessons I give come back to where the hands start. It is the cheapest fix in hitting and nobody wants to hear it, because it sounds too simple. It is also why a drill that looks small can change an entire swing.
02
The decision matters more than the swing
At CageList we care less about a hitter's mechanics and more about the mindset they carry into the box. My answer to what a hitter should be thinking is simple: if I can reach it, I am smashing it. A hitter who has already decided to attack is easier to coach than one who is thinking about his elbow.
Baseball is full of failure. A coach who guides that relationship well can change a kid's confidence in either direction, and that matters more than any single mechanical fix.
03
The bat does not matter
Mentally it does not matter what bat you use. A better bat can add some pop, but it is too often the excuse for not hitting. I have seen kids carry three expensive bats and not be able to do ten push-ups. Push-ups are free. Earn the gear.
04
Tee, soft toss, cage, or live
Early in a lesson the tee and soft toss let the coach isolate one thing, because the ball is always in the same place. Later the cage and live pitching test whether it survived. Two strike approach and hitting to all fields are worth a lesson on their own once a player has the basics.
A cage hour also works well for two players. They take turns, one watches the other, and each learns from the extra swings they see.
05
Questions to ask a hitting coach
- What will you change first, and why? A good answer is one or two things in plain words. If the answer is a gadget, keep looking.
- How many swings will my child get? Reps are the point of the hour. Ask what the rest of the time is for.
- What do I practice at home? A tee, a net and ten focused minutes beat a weekend marathon.
06
Questions parents ask
Does the bat matter for a young hitter?
Not mentally. A better bat can add some pop, but it should never be the reason a hitter is not hitting. Spend the money on lessons and reps, and have the player earn the equipment.
What should a hitter be thinking in the batter's box?
If I can reach it, I am smashing it. The mindset is to attack a pitch in the zone rather than hope for a walk.
How many private hitting lessons does my child need?
Book one and watch the hour. Real improvement comes from reps between lessons, so the lesson is the plan and the practice is the work.
Can two kids take a hitting lesson together?
Yes. In a cage, two players trade turns and each learns from the other's swings. On CageList each extra player adds a share of the coach's rate and the total is split evenly, so each player's share is lower than a solo lesson.
How do I find a private hitting coach near me?
Choose a coach who is background checked and can explain, in plain words, what they will change first. On CageList you can see each coach's price, where they teach and open times before you book.
Book a lesson with Isaac
Isaac coaches in the Orlando area and books his own lessons on CageList. See his price, where he teaches and open times.