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Hey, I'm a catcher and the one problem I have is throwing the ball to second base. I always get it there on a bouce. I know I don't have a strong arm, but I know I can make the throw to second on a low line drive. I am told I must rear back more and then fire, but I don't want to take too much time. Anybody know how I can make the proper throwdown with all my arm strength but still have enough time to throw the runner out?
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is just a hole in Arizona. -George F. Will
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Catch43,

First of all, a throw on a bounce isn't always a bad thing. Most infielders would rather handel one on a bounce then a big looping rainbow.

But, a few things that can cause a low throw,

1. Your target, if your target is 2nd base, I mean actualy the base, then you may have your sights (eyes) set too low. I tell my catchers to be throwing to a spot one foot off the ground, but 20 feet past 2nd. You do not want to throw to 2nd base, you want to throw THROUGH it.

2. Your left foot. If you have a strong arm then many catchers rely on it too much without even thinking about it or realize they are doing it. The symptom of that is they do not drive their left foot aggressively towards 2nd. When they turn their hips to 2nd they only take a small step with their left foot. When they throw hard their upper body flys over their hips and they end up releasing the ball WAY to far out in front. Had they driven the left foot farther towards 2nd their upper body would have stayed with their hips and a higher reelease point (and higher throw) will result.

These are 2 of the most common things I see with kids I see.

By far the thing that helps most of them is changing their target and beginning to throw to a point past the bag. Get you eyes up off the bag and throw through it.

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