i would grately appreciate it if anybody had any good websites that offer advice on fielding, mainly from the infield, more specifically shortstop position. of course any advice from anybody else would be very helpful as well.
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What kind of advice are you looking for? Please be more specific.
im talkin ANYTHING that would help a shortstop learn how to do ANYTHING. some example topics of interest to me are covering the bag at second, getting grounders on the best hops possible, charging the ball, going back on short pop flied to the outfield, slow rollers, etc.
also any practice advice would be awesome such as drills wieght training or agility work or anything else i could do that would help me become a better shortstop
If you plan to be a SS as you move up, you need to have good footwork and range. Arm strength is somewhat important but you can make up for that with good footwork.
You need someone to hit you 100+ grounders/flys per/day EVERY DAY - your movement must be instinctive and direct with little thought.
Also - take a tennis ball and throw against a wall, low throws - to your right and left - coming up throwing working on your footwork
Also - The BEST fielder with the BEST Arm (strenght + Accuracy) will be your teams SS, unless you are dedicated to the work to be the best at those two skills - you might consider other positions
Also - take a tennis ball and throw against a wall, low throws - to your right and left - coming up throwing working on your footwork
Also - The BEST fielder with the BEST Arm (strenght + Accuracy) will be your teams SS, unless you are dedicated to the work to be the best at those two skills - you might consider other positions
ok footwork
what would proper footwork be on a ground ball hit directly at you
on covering second base
on the slow roller right at you
on the slow roller towards third base
on a ground ball hit up the middle that you can still get in front of
thanks
what would proper footwork be on a ground ball hit directly at you
on covering second base
on the slow roller right at you
on the slow roller towards third base
on a ground ball hit up the middle that you can still get in front of
thanks
The answers to your question will depend on how hard the ball is hit.
But, to provide you with generic answers (assuming a ball that is hit fairly hard):
GB directly at you - try to round the ball and get your momentum headin to 1B. I like to step through after you catch the ball b/c you cover more ground.
covering 2B - I like to straddle the bag. This allows the throw to travel further. Also, by anchoring your back foot at the back corner of the bag, you know exactly where to tag.
slow roller at you - what type of runner? Anyway, the key to a slow roller is getting rid of it quickly. Field the ball inside your left foot and throw when your right foot lands.
slow roller towards 3B - try to get around it with some momentum heading to 1B and follow footwork on slow roller at you.
GB up the middle - the key is to set your feet after you field. Plan on your footwork before you field...this could be a drop step, a pirouette, who knows?
But, to provide you with generic answers (assuming a ball that is hit fairly hard):
GB directly at you - try to round the ball and get your momentum headin to 1B. I like to step through after you catch the ball b/c you cover more ground.
covering 2B - I like to straddle the bag. This allows the throw to travel further. Also, by anchoring your back foot at the back corner of the bag, you know exactly where to tag.
slow roller at you - what type of runner? Anyway, the key to a slow roller is getting rid of it quickly. Field the ball inside your left foot and throw when your right foot lands.
slow roller towards 3B - try to get around it with some momentum heading to 1B and follow footwork on slow roller at you.
GB up the middle - the key is to set your feet after you field. Plan on your footwork before you field...this could be a drop step, a pirouette, who knows?
I have also tried to look for help with fielding but haven't found a good (high level of play) website.
Here are some drills that I recommend. Buy one of those "flat" infield glove. This will do wonders for footwork, getting the glove down flat, shoulders down and right hand more involved with fielding.
I believe in a slight left eye concept for fielding a groud ball, meaning position yourself to field the ball toward left eye vs. right side, unless it is a slow roller in which it can be both depending...
You should be taking literally hundreds of ground balls during the baseball season and some off season.
With my son, per session:
50 ground balls with flat glove
30 back hand with regular glove
30 slow roller (both to the left and right)
10 perfect (in a row) with regular glove with combination of regular, back hand, double play, etc.
On a different session we will have throwing drills. We use the worn out balls from fielding to throw against a high chain link fence, (since I can no longer handle the hard throws). We put a target on the fence. Then I toss balls to him. I simulate regular grounders, double plays from both short and second base. We work on at least 3 different throwing actions: 1. regular over the top, 2. quick release and 3. slight side arm. Then I stand behind him and toss balls or drop the balls behind him and then he will have to make the throws. This is to help with backhand throws from short or 3rd.
If you can attend infield camps this would be really helpful. My son use to shake his glove before he fields a ball...something I never noticed but the infield instructor did. Have someone evaluate you. If you see a good short stop, find out if he attends an infield camp and go there.
I knew absolutely nothing about baseball until my son showed interest in it. Since then, I learned alot. He now plays college baseball.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Here are some drills that I recommend. Buy one of those "flat" infield glove. This will do wonders for footwork, getting the glove down flat, shoulders down and right hand more involved with fielding.
I believe in a slight left eye concept for fielding a groud ball, meaning position yourself to field the ball toward left eye vs. right side, unless it is a slow roller in which it can be both depending...
You should be taking literally hundreds of ground balls during the baseball season and some off season.
With my son, per session:
50 ground balls with flat glove
30 back hand with regular glove
30 slow roller (both to the left and right)
10 perfect (in a row) with regular glove with combination of regular, back hand, double play, etc.
On a different session we will have throwing drills. We use the worn out balls from fielding to throw against a high chain link fence, (since I can no longer handle the hard throws). We put a target on the fence. Then I toss balls to him. I simulate regular grounders, double plays from both short and second base. We work on at least 3 different throwing actions: 1. regular over the top, 2. quick release and 3. slight side arm. Then I stand behind him and toss balls or drop the balls behind him and then he will have to make the throws. This is to help with backhand throws from short or 3rd.
If you can attend infield camps this would be really helpful. My son use to shake his glove before he fields a ball...something I never noticed but the infield instructor did. Have someone evaluate you. If you see a good short stop, find out if he attends an infield camp and go there.
I knew absolutely nothing about baseball until my son showed interest in it. Since then, I learned alot. He now plays college baseball.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
I could use some clarification on what you called the "step through" which i have several ideas of what that means. My best guess is that it means while you are preparing to throw to shuffle you feet in a right foot out in front of left type deal, but i wouldnt be asking if i knew what i was talking about.
and what is a pirouette, sounds like a spin away from first towards third base with you lead shoulder to get you shoulders ligned up.
and how would you execute a drop step on a GB up the middle
and im know there are an almost infinite variety of plays that shortstops are forced to make, but how can i practice such things, like bad-hops and rellay throws, as well as ground balls on my own, because it seems like shortstops are always having to adjust and the best shortstops are the best at adjusting
and what is a pirouette, sounds like a spin away from first towards third base with you lead shoulder to get you shoulders ligned up.
and how would you execute a drop step on a GB up the middle
and im know there are an almost infinite variety of plays that shortstops are forced to make, but how can i practice such things, like bad-hops and rellay throws, as well as ground balls on my own, because it seems like shortstops are always having to adjust and the best shortstops are the best at adjusting
INFIELDPARENT
i was wondering who your son was
its very humbling to be getting advice from someone who has sent their son to play college baseball
you advice was very helpful
i was also wondering if you could give a little more detail about the throws you talked about. What is the difference between the quick throw and a regular throw (other than the obvious of course) Do you like the idea of taking the ball to the ear, or cocking the arm so it is parrelel to the ground but everything is at shoulder level. Just an example question. Some clarification would be most appriciated.
Thanks for acknowledging my post and helping me out
i was wondering who your son was
its very humbling to be getting advice from someone who has sent their son to play college baseball
you advice was very helpful
i was also wondering if you could give a little more detail about the throws you talked about. What is the difference between the quick throw and a regular throw (other than the obvious of course) Do you like the idea of taking the ball to the ear, or cocking the arm so it is parrelel to the ground but everything is at shoulder level. Just an example question. Some clarification would be most appriciated.
Thanks for acknowledging my post and helping me out
pick up a copy of Ron Polk's baseball Playbook. It has everything you need, and more...
quote:Originally posted by s2fmf:
I could use some clarification on what you called the "step through" which i have several ideas of what that means. My best guess is that it means while you are preparing to throw to shuffle you feet in a right foot out in front of left type deal, but i wouldnt be asking if i knew what i was talking about.
and what is a pirouette, sounds like a spin away from first towards third base with you lead shoulder to get you shoulders ligned up.
and how would you execute a drop step on a GB up the middle
and im know there are an almost infinite variety of plays that shortstops are forced to make, but how can i practice such things, like bad-hops and rellay throws, as well as ground balls on my own, because it seems like shortstops are always having to adjust and the best shortstops are the best at adjusting
Step through = take right foot aggressively towards your throwing target right after fielding.
pirouette = a spin
how can you practice bad hops, etc? Take hundreds of GBs daily. My father used to hit me at least 200 GBs every day after school.
practice throwing from all arm angles
SS's are not the only ones who have to adjust...all good players have to adjust.
In HS, you have to adjust game to game. In college, from one AB (or play) to another. In pro ball, from one pitch to the next. The game continues to speed up as you move up levels.
My son spent a few hours a day for years playing wall ball in the basement with a tennis ball..both with a glove and bare handed. Made double plays etc by throwing off different walls.. -