Fielding ground balls

Get down low and  field out front. That is not to say that you won't use your body to knock a ball down that is a screamer or takes a bad hop. 

Fielding low and out front gives a defensive glove more opportunities to make late adjustments to the ball. Also sets up better transfers and better position to execute accurate throws quickly.

Hi HTown.  I've been hearing about that other method of late as well.  Like you, I was taught and preferred the "suck it into the gut" method as well.

In case you are interested, I made a short video of this very topic not long ago.  The link is below.

http://www.baseballbytheyard.c...ons-scoop-or-funnel/

BaseballByTheYard.com

Hi guys,

Fielding the ball out and away from your body is key to becoming a successful fielder. I teach my athletes to do this, and paint the picture like this: You catch a thrown ball or linedrive out front with your arms extended. You catch a pop up or fly ball with arms extended out and above your head, so why not catch a ground ball the same way?

The main reasons are:

 A. to be agressive and "go get the ball" off the ground. If it is a short hop, you want to grap the ball right as it hits off the ground.

 B. If you let the ball get "inside" of you, or into yor gut upon reveiving the ball, you eleminite the ability to watch the ball in your glove, as well as, allow for more errant opportunities (i.e ball hitting off heal of glove, slimply being susceptible to a late second bad hop.)

Once you receive a ground ball out front and away, then you pull both glove and throwing hand into chest as you assume the motion and hands seperation to make your throw.

I hope this answers any questions with clarity.

Coach mills and meachrm,

thanks for your replies.  This info helps a lot. 

meach,

Prior to watching your video, I hadn't considered that getting rid of the ball quicker is an aspect of the funnel-vs.-scoop debate.. The typical HS runner covers about 2.5 ft. of ground in 1/10th second at a full run, and of course bang-bang plays at first are common.  This stuff matters.

I watched the video just now. The only time I teach my players the "scoop method" as mentioned, is fielding a short hop. Anything else needs to be met out front and "funnel" into the chest. It is my responsibility as a coach to correct any player who tries to receive the ball in at their crotch area. Constant reminding is a must in the beginning. The players will pick up on the correct form relativily quick if you stay on them.

We teach to pick through anything below the knee, and funnel anything above

I think what we are discussing is a philosophy and it depends on the coaches mindset.  I teach the funnel method, however I have a couple kids that do scoop thorugh the ball and are uncomfortable with the funnel.  At the end of the day these two infielders get the job done and I leave them alone.  Just like hitting there are a million ways to skin a cat.  IMO if they can do it let them do it.

Well, I attempted to make a comment on Freddy77's link and could not get through to comment so here goes again.

To funnel or scoop.

It is not whether one or the other is the quickest way to get rid of the ball, the quickest way to get rid of the ball is by the way the elbow is moved and positioned during ball/hand from glove transition. The elbow is the most important part of the arm during it's throwing movement  to ball release due to the fact that the elbow sets up the arm in either a negative or a positive throwing position, taking the ball out of the glove and dropping your elbow puts your arm in the most horrible and injurious throwing position possible. now on the other hand keeping the elbow up as an infielder and a catcher when one lets the elbow lead the ball in hand out of the glove is very good and by letting the elbow movement pull/lead the ball in hand out, straight back and up to shoulder level/height only, no higher  as if one was going to straight punch an object then the elbow quickly rotates internally  forward setting the forearm back into it's momentarily, externally laid back position then the forearm immediately comes forward in a mouse trap movement on forward to it's ball release position, this elbow position and very quick short elbow and arm movement and route to release point  enables one to acquire the quickest ball release possible although as we all are aware of  some players can move faster than others.

Coach McCreary

Although the arm does come through from it's externally extended lay back position on to and through the {90} degree upright position into a mouse trap movement to ball release, I do agree with you, as like you I do not see any reason to dwell in that arm position although I do like to familiarize players I coach with the arm movements and positions.

If you have not done so, go to 3PSports, Rick Peterson, Shadow pitching drill and let me know what you think.

Don Ervin

I've seen it before and I just watched it again.  I've always liked the drill.  Good for timing, stride direction, and weight movement.

If I read your response correctly, I think you and I agree that it is a matter of emphasis.  If a young kid has his elbow too low, I would emphasize a more 90 degree upright position.  If the player gets his arm up fine, I wouldn't emphasize that position.

I may be going out on the limb here and I'd welcome criticism but I think this enormous emphasis on the 90 degree upright position of the arm after separating the hands is why only pitchers seem to need Tommy John surgery.  You rarely see a position player need the procedure even though they make the same amount (maybe more) throws than pitchers.  Other factors are involved too but I think part of the reason is that we don't emphasize that arm position to position players nearly as much as pitchers.

I'm not a kinesiologist so I could be wrong.  Just a hunch. 

BaseballByTheYard.com