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Catcher's Throw to 2nd Mechanics Described

CC Catching Coach100+ posts
Have had a few requests to post a task analysis of the throw to 2nd mechanics I teach. Well here you go. Remember that to follow is a written description of a very complex skill. As hard as I try to make the movements clear if I lose you somewhere along the line be sure to ask for a clarification.

Need to start with a few premises on stance so the analysis makes sense down the road.

1.Secondary receiving position (runners on base) has feet slightly wider then primary (no runners on).
2.Heals are on the ground, toes pointed up the lines
3.Throwing hand is behind glove.
a.Proper position for throwing hand is as follows. Player extends hand as if to offer handshake. Drop thumb to palm, wrap fingers around to protect thumb. Then the hand is placed behind glove with the middle finger knuckles touching glove.

4.Catcher has come up in crouch so thighs are parallel to ground. This is approx. Goal is to get out of deep crouch and “unlock hips’ to allow for a quick explosive move towards second. Staying in deep crouch requires first move to be “up” and that will waste time.


Now for the throwing mechanics. A lot of things here are all happening together. I will start with describing the footwork I teach and then the glove and arm motion separately. This footwork would be for a 0-2 count where catcher will hold strike.

One of the things that happens early in the mechanics is a very subtle weight shift. When just receiving pitches I instruct catchers to have weight spread with 60% on heals, 40% on balls of feet. As soon as they are aware the runner is moving that shifts to 60-40 the other way. This will only happen after MUCH practice and will have to become almost an unconscious shift.

The footwork begins with the catcher beginning to rise up out of the crouch. Since they are slightly pitched forward this movement is up-and-out-toward second. The first foot to move is the right foot. It slides straight across towards the left foot. It is planted at a spot that would be ½ way between where it was and where the right foot is. DO NOT have the right foot replace the left. This is taught, but creates way to much momentum in the wrong direction. The goal here is to get turned so the left hip is pointed towards second as fast as possible.

The left foot follows quickly with the right. The target for the left foot is to land basically directly in front of the right foot. This will put the body in a straight alignment to 2nd. We want this foot as close to the midline as possible. However we do not want this foot to cross the midline. Ideally this foot should be pointed directly at 2nd.

With the slight lean forward at the beginning and a strong push off the back leg we should avoid the problem of having all weight sitting on the back leg that results in throws totally dependent on arm strength and throws that often tend to go high and right.

Now the upper half of the body.

The exchange of the ball from glove to hand is a big time eater for many players. Here’s how I teach it.

Once the ball makes contact with the glove the first move the player makes is to turn the glove so the pocket is now facing them. They grab the ball and the throwing hand immediately begins its path back through the throwing slot. The glove stays out in front of the player. It does not travel back toward the throwing shoulder any after the ball is removed. The glove stays out front.

Many kids are taught to draw the glove back with the ball and remove the ball when the glove is back to the right ear. I believe that technique causes 2 problems that need to be eliminated.
a.By drawing the glove back to the ear you cause the front (left) shoulders to close off the front side. Some girls rotate that shoulder so far that their left shoulder is pointed towards the 1st base dugout. Obviously this causes alignment problems that almost surely will result in a erratic throw.
b.The 2nd problem this causes is the sideways movement that will be created by the glove side arm when the throw is executed. As we throw, the glove side arm should be driving down to the left side to help pull the right side forward. To get the release point out in front. With the glove back so deep on the right side of the catchers face the first moves that arm will make is a radical sideways motion just to get back on the left side of the body. Then, and only then can that left elbow bend and the left arm drive down where it belongs. All of this sideways torque is counter productive to a throw that’s should be headed toward 2nd base.

From this point the left elbow moves up to a point where the elbow is bent at a 90-degree and the left elbow is pointed directly at 2nd. I tell the catchers to use this elbow as their sight. The upper arm should be shoulder height. Level to the ground. Glove hand is allowed to bend down at wrist in relaxed position.

When the ball was removed it begins its path back the throwing slot. The grip we are working for here is a 4-seam. With practice a player can come out of the glove with a 4-seam grip nearly ever time. The biggest issue from this point is this. The entire throwing arm, shoulder, elbow, hand and ball NEVER go any lower then when they remove the ball from the glove. As soon as the arm starts back it should begin to track in an upward direction, the elbow slightly ahead of the ball. Our “target” is end up with our right elbow shoulder high with the upper arm parallel to the ground. Yes, just like the glove side arm. The elbow should be at a 90-degree angle up. The ball should face the backstop, hand slightly on top of the ball. If the ball is not all the way facing the back stop the impending rotation of the hips and arm will almost always create a wrist roll that will result in a throw that will act like a curve ball and tail away to the left.

At this point the actual throw begins with a simultaneous rotation of the right side. I tell my students that the pinky on your right hand starts the throw. As it rotates the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and right foot all rotate towards 2nd. At the same time the left elbow begins to drive the left arm down and back towards the left hip. This driving helps “pull” the right side through the throw and moves the release point out in front of the body. It is important to keep the head up and looking at target all the way through. Too often the head follows the left shoulder and drops the left side down. This will almost always result in a high to the left throw. After the release the right foot and leg are allowed to release from the ground to release the remaining energy that is stored on the right side.


Wow…I had no idea it would be this long…for those of you that stayed with me…thanks, and I look forward to your thoughts and questions

Kid with a 90MPH fastball......Potential

Kid with a 90MPH fastball and a great catcher....Results
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L Lamber100+ posts
I believe this reads very mechanical and doesn't do justice to what you mean.

However, I disagree with several points. The release you describe better be followed by a powerful arm. Because it is not very quick.

#1 the right foot does not have to move. It will from time to time due to pitch location but assuming you have a pitcher that is in the zone, that is the first spot where time is wasted. The ability to leave that foot down and achieve hip **** while the ball is in flight to you is key to a quick release.

#2 the ball is transfered as the throwing arm is throwing. Not necessarily going forward yet (although this happens sometimes) but it is already going back when the transfer is made. The throwing hand doesn't reach into an open glove and then go back. There is a very fluid hands (both hands) movement by the best releasing catchers that is very similar to a shortstop or secondbaseman turning a double play. The ball is not reached for. It is caught at the chest (as deep as you possibly can) with both hands (again similar to secondbaseman turning dp). The ball is actually dropped from the glove to the throwing hand, it is not grabbed by the throwing hand. Before you cry foul, I'm talking about a drop of less than an inch. It is impossible to have a quick release by reaching forward with the throwing hand during transfer. The throwing hand is moving back (c o c k i n g if you will) as the ball is transfered and this is done with the glove going back and a very slight drop of the ball from the glove to the hand. Drop is not the best word but grasp is not either. Catching the ball deep is critical and reaching for the ball is a major mistake of inexperienced catchers. You will lose balance by reaching, and you'll add tenths to your pop time. If you reach, you have to reset your feet.

I'm sure my explanation reads just as mechanical as yours. Sorry, but I had to attempt to make my points.
CC Catching Coach100+ posts
Lamber, thanks for your feedback,

The one qualifier I should have stated in my post was that this is the technique that I start any student off with. A number of things you say about the exchange I agree with, but my intent was to explain how I begin teaching throwing to catchers. Also I stated that this is the technique I teach for a 0-2 count when your holding for the strike. ALmost nothing happening until ball hits glove. Very few of the 13-16yr old catchers I work with have the skill at first to time their mechanics so they can be moving while the ball is in flight.

As far as speed goes, the fastest release I have ever timed in over 500 catchers is with this jump-pivot method.

As far as the exchange goes, I never used the word "reach" in my post. I do not teach reaching. When the ball hits the glove the elbow gives a little, turns to face the catcher and the throwing hand removes it, grasps it and begins back the throwing slot. I teach keeping the glove hand out front because having watched many catchers who receive deep have a tendency to pull their left shoulder to far closed while making the exchange.

As catchers progress in skill I begin to show them how they can deflect the ball from the glove right into their throwing hand for an even faster release.

But again the kids that come to me are often all over home plate when they throw. Many still using crow hops to throw. I use this technique to get them settled into a more disciplined, consistant throwing pattern.

Kid with a 90MPH fastball......Potential

Kid with a 90MPH fastball and a great catcher....Results
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
My son's catching coach is about 95% along the lines of what was originally posted, except, and this is along the lines of Lamber's post, transferring the ball from glove to throwing hand. He describes it more as "redirecting" the ball to the throwing hand, rather than a short drop. You definitely don't grasp. He teaches that turning the double play by a MIF is almost exactly the same concept as the transfer for the catcher. However, he also teaches that you start with the right foot to not only start hip turn, but also provide force toward 2nd as you begin forward motion. About the only other substantive difference is that he prefers the glove hand out in front as a "sight" rather than bent at 90% and using the elbow to sight along.
CollegeParentNoMoreCollegeParentNoMore1,000+ posts
I am kind of partial to "building a grip" with your hand in the glove while brining the ball back. I think a lot of kids never get a good grip by quickly grabbing/removing the ball out of their glove. This can result in a double clutch or poor grip. It seems as though kids often focus on getting the ball out of the glove ASAP when in fact its more important to establish a proper grip. After all, what good is being quick out of the glove if you drop the ball or throw a cutter into the outfield?

Another advantage to bringing the glove back is that it does force the catcher to rotate his shoulders into a "T" position along with his feet. I know one person felt some kids over rotated with this technique. My experience has been that many kids tend to leave their shoulder open when they throw, causing the ball to sail high and to the right of the base, the opposite of the problem of to much rotation! Why can't kids be consistently wrongSmile I also think brining the glove back forces the catcher to be more consistent in his upper body positioning and mechanics.

In our house we follow Bob Bennett's book which says, "As soon as the ball hits his mitt, the catcher should move his bare hand in and grip the ball..........The catcher should use his mitt and his bare hand together
in order to adjust his grip, a maneuver that can be done smoothly and that can become part of his throwing rhythm........While the ball is on its way to the throwing position, the catcher should secure the proper grip, which will make it possible to continue with the throw without any hesitation."

One thing I am sure of, no one technique is "proper" or "works" for everybody.
JimD45JimD45100+ posts
Catching coach,

I think you are by far more on the money than Lamber. Don't back down. First of all the as for the transfer I would rather run against his catcher than yours. The main difference between yours and his is that his method is focused on pure quickness while your method will build balance, power, and most importantly, rythmn. Lamber's contention that the right foot does not have to move may be correct, but it doesn't gain him anything in speed or quality of the throw. You don't have to move it but you will in most cases have to make some type of weight transfer back to 1)close the front side, and 2)gain balance.

Lamber, I guess I should adress you directly as I disagree with your assertions. You want your catchers to catch the ball with two hands? Two handed catching (like infielders use) went out in the early seventies when Johnny Bench came on to the scene. Show me one major league, minor league, or even college catcher who does this. Most importantly, you are exposing them to injury. For what? They are not gaining anything by doing that. As far as "reaching forward" is concerned, my guess is that what CC is describing is the meeting of the hands around the midpoint of the body. He's not leaving his glove way out in front and reaching his bare hand way out front. As the hands meet at the midpoint if you are set on "dropping" it into your throwing hand then have at it. I'll take the "meet and grab" technique every time. Furthermore, after the hands meet in the middle and transfer, the arms move in opposite directions from the midpoint to load, aim and throw.

Overall my problem with your approach, other than the bare hand injury factor, is that you are so focused on "quickness" that you are creating what to me seems like the makings of poor balance and lack of rythmn. By investing an extra split second in the catch and transfer process you gain balance and rythmn resulting in far more consistent, powerful, and accurate throws.
M Mobunts100+ posts
Not moving your right foot to make the throw. On an outside pitch I see this happening,only then. I have never heard or seen this technique taught. If you watch Pudge or any of the great catchers, the first thing that happens is with their feet.
I believe it is one of the first things scouts and coaches look at in a catcher, maybe I'm wrong but everywhere we have been footwork is always stressed.
T Texan1,000+ posts
Once again, a nice post Catching Coach. Thanks for taking time to share it with everyone.

I wasn't completely sure you were describing what is commonly called the jump pivot footwork, until your second post. I take it you like to see extremely fast footwork?

"Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser." Sandy Koufax
L Lamber100+ posts
JimD45

The written word does not lend itself to this type of explanation as I mentioned already.

But, there is not loss of balance or rhythm in my technique. In fact, there is more balance in mine because I never leave balance like a player who moves his right foot.

As far as the two handed catching is concerned, I'm not talking about the "old" style of two handed catching. I'm talking about the throwing hand being at the ball at the time of catch. This occurs because the catch is made deep into the body (like middle infielders do).

The "no right foot movement" of a catcher is very similar to no stride hitting. In that with proper weight shift and hip c o c k and shoulder turn the ball can be caught and transfered on any "handleable" pitch with great quickness and still allow explosive hip and shoulder turn to get off a very strong throw. And a key to this technique is letting the ball get to you. Handling the far left pitch is no different than a secondbaseman handling a throw from his ss that is to the first base side of the bag. He still has to maintain contact with the base (kind of) but he can't break his throwing momentum so he reaches left with his glove and brings the throwing hand to the glove and makes the transfer as he's throwing.

A great drill is to use a batting t and set the ball at approx. release point height. Have the catcher take his arm back to throw and he can't grab the ball (off the t) until the elbow starts forward. In good throwing motion, as the elbow starts forward the hand is relatively still. There is some movement but in slow motion he can grab the ball while this is happening to teach him what part of the throwing motion is the ball actually transfered. Not a great drill at full speed. Just good to explain where the transfer takes place.

Another very good analogy of proper footwork in a good release is a good quarterback in football.

I never saw Dan Marino take a hop with his right foot before delivering a throw. It's planted and he can throw whenever and whereever he wishes. You might say, "but his shoulders are already squared to throw". And I would say, "so are the catchers if he's receiving the ball properly. He should receive the ball with his shoulders already alligned to throw. The only difference is a catcher has to catch a ball moving 90 mph before doing so. But if the pitch is handleable that is no problem.

What most don't realize is with proper torqueing of the lower and upper half of your body, the steps with the feet are unnecessary. Just like a no stride hitter doesn't need to stride to generate power a good catcher or middle infielder doesn't need to step to generate a very good quicke release and throw.
M mittman100+ posts
there are 4 techniques taught on footwork, that i have heard of
1. rocker step- which i believe is what lamber was talking about. no movement with the right foot, step and throw with the left.= quicker release....but not much on the throw. the only guy i saw that could do this well was a guy that got moved to the mound because he was throwing 95
2. the jump turn- wher the catcher jumps and turns the body at the same time. body momentum is up then down and not toward the target.= not much on the throw
3 foot replacement- where the right foot replaces the left foot in order to throw.= usually will get momentum going toward 3rd base dugout
4. the step through- where the right foot steps in front(with out a better term to use) of the left foot with a quick, low, short stride, and then stride with the left foot to throw. i have sometimes used the term as a "mini crow hop"..this gets the momentum going to the target at the same time you are gaining ground towards 2nd base

as far as hands transfering, you turn the mitt (1st thing) and as you are moving the mitt back your throwing hand is taking the ball out of the mitt to continue on a flat arm circle to throw. you should still get arm extension in the back and not throw by your ear.

i use to argue about the throwing hand behind the mitt, but have found many guys get too tight or confined by this so i have gone to making sure the throwing hand gets to the mitt at or before the same time as the ball.

whew could type for days on this one
RacabRacab1,000+ posts
When you image the catcher moves before the throw by parts looks like it take to long to do, but in reality catching the ball, set the right foot, bring the mitt back at the same time that you gripp the ball and turn your shoulders is almost simultaneus and take a very short fraction of a second. The ventadge is that at this point you are ready to make an strong and accurate throw. If you try to short-cut the pr****ss to release the ball quicker, you are doing what kids do in showcases, inaccurate and weak throws to get better pop-times.

"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez

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