Outfield footwork

Mr3000,

On plays that could be described routine, you would want to have your left foot down when receiving the ball. Then step with right foot – crow hop - and throw. All this is set up by moving your body into the direction of your throw before you receive the ball.

You should field ground balls (using 2 hands) in ordinary situations, just as if you were an infielder.

If it’s the winning run trying to score you would field the ball to your glove side with just your glove hand, much like an infielder on a slow roller except you need to get off a strong, accurate and fast throw. These plays are called do or die.

Here is an excerpt out of our Outfield Guidelines:

Stance – comfortable, relaxed movements but on balls of feet – movements should be slightly forward – feet slightly (slightly) staggered – as outfielder comes forward, he should focus on the pitcher then as pitcher gets ready to deliver, draw a square in front of the hitter.

Footwork – step slightly forward, practice a crossover step to both directions – must work on groundballs to both directions. Must practice spin move for right-hander when going left and just the opposite for the left-hander.

Footwork is best worked on by throwing drills. Then progress to the fungo workout. Also important to footwork is the proper shoulder. If wrong shoulder pointed at the ball, conscience decision to drive the opposite shoulder at the ball. ALWAYS WORK OFF OF THE CROSSOVER STEP NOT JAB STEP!

Footwork on throw, when catching a ball, don’t run with the ball after the catch. Get the ball in to an infielder quickly. On a ground ball, make the catch off of the front toe or just outside the front toe. As soon as you gain possession of the ball, drive the back foot under the body via a crow hop. We don’t care whether you are a person that goes behind or in front of your glove side foot.

Catching the ball, Fly Ball:

1. catch the ball by being 2 steps beyond the ball. Must practice this since it is not a natural movement.
2. catch the ball throwing side.
3. if catch the ball running away, then spin move.
4. If burned, duck and sprint to the spot.
5. Always use two hands with the throwing hand next to the glove to enable the outfielder to get the ball out fast.
6. never practice the simple catch. Always practice the catch that requires a throw. In reality, this will ensure that the outfielder is ready to make the simple catch.

Catching the ball, Ground Ball:

1. Charge and don’t let the ball play you.
2. catch the ball off of the front toe (Never catch it in between your legs unless you are down on your knees.)
3. Know the situation – No throw situation. Go down on one knee with the other leg jutting out to the side. Block this ball at all cost. No throw – clean hit slow to average runner, ball is in front of you.
4. right-hander – practice running on ball to the left and catching the ball and then spinning to throw. Must practice this spin and then throw to cut off.

all of the above is good advice. you can take a look at our outfield guidelines which are a little different but doesnt make them any more right than the 2 above. there's more than one right way. go to our website, go to menu, click on handouts and then click on outfield fundamentals. thanks - steve
http://www.leaguelineup.com/raiderbaseball

Ok, thanks guys. I got mixed answers here. One says to catch a grounder with the right foot forward, the other two say it doesn't matter which foot is forward. Another says catch fly balls with the left foot forward.
First, I guess it is more a matter of personal preference then? I can now recall reading some book written by a former Major League outfielder, who said don't time your steps, just charge and catch, and throw. It seems like that's what goes on the majors too. I just watched some baseball highlights and the couple fielders I saw just charge, caught, and threw, as mentioned. So I have three things to try out. Left foot forward, right foot forward, and finally, just charge and who cares what foot forward, and see which works best. Also would anyone have any clips of any outfielders coming up gunning? It doesn't have to be the guys with cannons, I want the guys who get rid of the ball quickly and accurately.

As for the fly ball, wouldn't they be caught the same way you catch a grounder? The only difference I see is that the fly ball is caught higher than the ground ball.

Oh yes, and for routine base hit singles to the outfielders, I charge as hard as I can until the ball is close, so the runner won't think about taking the extra base, plus the throw is closer so less risk of throwing error and less risk of advancing on a bobble. Then I slow down to a stop and kneel down on one knee. This helps block the ball and makes it easier to field w/ two hands.

Anymore tips greatly appreciated. Any video clips, doubly appreciated.

welcome to the world of baseball. like i said there are lots of right answers. the main goals are 1.stay behind the baseball and catch it.2. on a single keep the batter/runner on first base.3. keep the double play in order - try to avoid 1st and 3rds(good baserunning will make this hard) and 2nd and 3rds.4. dont give the batter/runner the extra base on a throw, laziness, or a bobble.5. dont play a single into a double or triple. we do position fundamentals everyday but if it gets in the way of those things i just mentioned its overcoaching. we try not to overcoach. we teach nobody on - go to a knee - but we teach our baserunners to watch for outfielders being lazy on this. do-or-dies we teach catch the ball outside glove foot. we teach catch flyballs from behind with glove foot forward - it leads into the footwork for a throw easier. balls in the gap - banana. reverse pivot on balls to your left(rh) that you cant get behind. our words of emphasis for our outfielders is to always get behind the baseball and just play catch. the teams that play catch the best usually win. but the bottom line is get the job done. results. but you have to be careful there too. its results against the quality teams. confusing huh? thanks - steve

Come on guys, get in the mainstream. When catching a fly ball everybody knows that what you really need to do is spend years studying clips of no other part of the game except catching fly balls in order to learn how the greatest outfielders camped under, caught fly balls and threw.In that regard, I don’t have much footage that shows footwork, but I can tell you more than you wanted to know about the things I have been able to see.

Bonds pinch/loads both scaps just before the ball arrives, then pinches the throwing hand scapula toward the spine (glove hand scap loads away from the spine). This necessitates loading the throwing hand elbow back. Hold it through the early part of rotation and then slot it on time after the crow hop (at toe touch).

Make sure that the counterroation of the hips keeps their plane and the shoulder turn plane perpendicular to the spine until shoulder rotation is complete.

THop

THop, thanks for the chuckle!!! Heck we could break it down even more to absolutely minute parts and see if we could devise 100 drills to simulate this.

THop, I know baseball is a scientific game, but can we use baseball or plain english in there, please? What's a scap?

Raider, I seem to automatically catch fly balls with my right foot forward and am just fine throwing that way, but again I have to drag my dad outside and try the other footwork types. Thanks again.

P.S. Thop, if you have footage, no matter how little or how lot, can you post it here or PM me? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr3000:
THop, I know baseball is a scientific game, but can we use baseball or plain english in there, please? What's a scap?

MR3000,
THop's post is a parody making fun of all the cyber hitting experts who over analize every aspect of a swing...... enjoy!

Hehe, cong.

What about Reed Johnson, the way he skips on one foot when he throws? Shouuld I give that a try, has anyone else seen and players at any level who's footwork is similar who gets rid of the ball quickly and accurately?

Cong:

Not all of them. Just Teacherman and his 5-6 interpreters at SP & HM that feel the need to talk down to others who successfully teach hitting (in the real world) without neglecting the other parts of the game.

Thanks

THop

Is this what you are talking about?

Clip of Ichiro crow hop: http://www.pitching-mechanics.org/vbforum/showthread.ph...385&highlight=Ichiro

I registered and I still can't get to that clip.