SS to Backhand

What your talking about here papi is a closed backhand in the first photo and an open backhand in the second photo. If you imagine in the open backhand position he is going to take the glove to his ear and plant with the back foot cross over and throw. There is no waisted motion. Momentum is created with the cross over of the right foot. Now imagine a closed backhand in this situation. The player must step with the right foot to square up to his target then cross over to gain momentum to his target.

The closed backhand for a ss making a throw to 1st base creates a longer transistion to the throwing position, leads itself to players not getting squared up on the throw, puts the front leg in a position where it can obstruct the fielding of the baseball. The open backhand is the correct way to field a ground ball in this scenario.

These are 2 different types of backhands. The crossover (left foot forward) is for balls that you REALLY have to reach for. After you catch, you plant with the right foot and then throw.

The right foot forward is known as a 'V cut' or 'declared' backhand. This is done on a ball that you don't need to reach for but you cannot completely get around it to generate positive momentum toward 1B. So, you travel directly to the ball, keep your right foot forward and rock your weight from right foot to left, stepping through toward 1B and throwing.

I hope this makes sense.

I failed to mention something redbird5 did. When your having to reach for a baseball and get as much as extension as possible to get to it redbird5 described it as I would as well.

Coach May, did you reverse your description of open vs. closed backhand when referring to the pictures?

And for both of you, it seems like you're saying left foot forward ONLY on balls that you're still moving when you get to them.

Right foot forward on balls you can pretty much get to but maybe not quite enough to field it normally.



I could never write a book about this...too hard to describe!

The first photo is what we call a closed back hand the second photo is an open backhand. You can reach much farther for a ball with a closed back hand stance. So in those instances where you really have to reach thats where the player will end up when he fields it. If you look at that photo of the closed back hand he is not reaching or extending for the baseball. He has gotten there in plenty of time to set up over the baseball. In these instances I would prefer and open back hand because its much easier to transistion to the throwing position and the foot is not in the way. Picture the closed back hand picture with the ball more out in front of him and him having to reach out with the glove to glove it.

If you stand in the fielding postion and cross over to the closed back hand postion and then do the same and get in the open back hand postion you can see the extension you can get on the closed back hand. The play you have to make should determine how you make it.

Now this is just my opinion and what I teach. And I know many coaches that teach this. It surely doesnt mean its the only way. Others will have their own opinions.

Personally I'd vote the second picture. Assuming a strong arm it's turn and throw in one motion. Lately son has been doing the Latin thing of sliding to the backhand and popping up and throwing. If it's a ball you have to charge in the hole the first pic makes more sense. All I really know is I can't do either.

infield son says the 2nd picture

I work with a lot of younger kids (11u-15u) and I teach the second picture (open) for several reasons. First, the transition from a normal fielding position to the open backhand is quite easy, so it is easy to build on their fundamentals. Second, the line of vision to the ball is far better in the open position. In the first picture, the player can hardly see the ball into the glove. The open position is far easier to watch the ball into the glove and then soften to the ear to throw. And third, in the closed position, kids tend to turn their back on the ball which simply exacerbates the flaws of #1 and #2. Now, with that said, I teach the closed position as "your last resort" for balls you cannot reach any other way. I teach them as a progression from normal ground ball, to open backhand, to closed backhand. With about 500 reps, they can become pretty smooth at all three and ready for HS.

Like redbird and Coach May said, it's not an either/or. They are both valid techniques for different situations. Both should be taught.