The Backhand Part 2

The Backhand  Part 2

    The second way to field a backhand is with the closed hips. This technique is used most often when the player is on the run and is unable to set up for the throw. This ball has more velocity and requires the player to go further. The player will field this ball off either foot but their hips are closed off to the rest of the infield. It is important that the player has their body as low as possible so that their eyes are in good position to see the ball. The player needs to have a good glove angle and depending on how far they have to run may not be able to get the ball out in front, but they should keep their glove down and avoid the common problem of sweeping the glove through the fielding zone. Once the ball is caught again the player has multiple options on how to throw this ball to the target.

        -Option 1: This is the preferred option, but is not necessarily the most commonly used option because it requires more time. This requires a relatively hard hit ball, and an average to below average runner, or a ball that the player was able to attack and backhand while moving forward. After the catch the player will plant their right foot and shuffle back towards the target throwing the ball and following through with at least 3-4 steps. Again like the open backhand the common problem is an over throw, to avoid the player should keep the front shoulder down and use a short arm action.

        -Option 2: This is the most commonly used and a relatively easy technique to perform, but requires some arm strength. This is used when there is an average to above average runner on a medium hit ball. In this option once the player catches the ball they will plant their right foot and push hard off of that foot to throw towards the target. This requires some arm strength to make an accurate throw in time. Also the hips must rotate through to get the required velocity on the ball. Again the common problem with this is the over throw because often the player will lean back to make this throw, the other problem that I often see is a bad throw directionally, because the player is pulling hard with their front side the ball tends to go up the line because the arm is dragging. To keep from throwing up the line the player should be sure to finish the throw, following through with the throwing arm. It is also important to use the legs during this throw and to attempt to keep the throw down by getting behind the ball, not under the ball.

        -Option 3: This is the most difficult of the throwing options and should be used as more of a “do or die” last resort. This is used when either below average velocity on the ball, or an above average runner. This option requires the player to make a throw on the run. This move requires very good arm strength and the player is often unable to use their legs to make this throw because they are still traveling in the opposite direction. There are two ways to complete this technique; the throw on the run where the player will essentially spin and throw and the “Derek Jeter Jump Throw”. The spin technique is the easier and more common of the two, the player will throw the ball while doing a quick 180 degree spin. The jump throw requires well above average arm strength and body control. This is a beneficial move if the player has the desired qualities because of the push from the jumping leg, the neutral position that the body is placed in allowing the hips to rotate through, and it allows the player to throw on a more “down hill” plane. This technique is very difficult and many players do not realize the amount of arm strength it takes to make that throw in time.

Trust is the most important part of the backhand, if the player does not believe that they will catch the ball, then they will pull up and out away from the ball. Players need to keep their face down there near the ball in order to have the best angle on the ball.

        The backhand can be very beneficial to a player that struggles with arm strength or struggles with range. The reason why I prefer to teach a back hand is because there are several balls the player try to catch with a forehand, but by doing so it puts them in a bad position to throw. The backhand, especially the open backhand, can put the fielder in a much better position to throw the ball than catching a forehand moving away from the target.

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The Backhand Part 1

Fielding: The Backhand  PART 1

        The backhand is one of the most under used and under practiced techniques of fielding a ground ball. Many young players are afraid of the backhand because it takes some trust and requires good footwork to pull it off successfully. There are two ways to field a backhand; open and closed. What I mean by that is the two possible positions of the hips, with the open backhand the hips are opened to the right side infield, while the closed the hips are closed off to the right side of the infield. Both are correct if used at the right time, with a backhand you have to make a quick assessment of where you are, speed of the ball, speed of the runner, and how are you going to make the throw. Here is how they play out.

        First we will talk about the open backhand, this is the ball where the player has time to set up but is not going to get around the ball. Usually this is the ground ball that was hit with some decent velocity a couple steps to the player’s right. The player can get there and set up by planting the right foot close to where the ball will be rolling and the left foot should be angled in the general direction of the target (1^st or 2^nd). When the player is moving to this position after contact he should stay low, this will help avoid his eyes moving which makes it more difficult to catch the ball. In a low position with the knees bent, butt down, eyes on the ball, and the proper glove angle set outside of the right foot the player will catch the ball adjusting to any hop that they may receive. The tendency for most players is pull the glove back and up, which takes the glove out of the way of the ball. There are times when the glove will have to move in that direction, but it is something that should not be done on every backhand. The player should either move his glove towards the ball or adjust back for an in between hop. Once the player catches the ball he has two standard options on how to throw the ball.

        -Option 1: The first option is the more standard of the two. Once the player catches the ball he will funnel it to the center (just like a routine ball) and will stay in a low position while they shuffle their feet to throw to first. It is important to stay “in the legs” when making the move to throw, this will help avoid an over throw. When a player stands up to throw the arm tends to drag because everything is now moving up and forward, this forces the ball high. The player should be able to throw the ball in the one shuffle and should follow the throw for at least 3-4 steps.

        -Option 2: If the player has a strong enough arm and depending on the speed of the ball and speed of the runner he can step and throw from the position he is already in. This is achieved by a quick transfer with the hands and pushing hard off the right leg to get as much on the throw as possible. This will be used when the ball doesn’t have a lot of velocity off the bat or the runner is moving quickly down the line. The common problem young people will have with this move is that their arm is unable to catch up with the rest of their body and the ball will sail high over the 1st baseman. To avoid that they player should focus on keeping the front shoulder down on the target and keeping a short arm action, it is better to bounce this ball on a long hop than to over throw it.

        The next entry will explain how to complete the closed backhand and throw.

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Fielding: The Basics

          Infield play can make or break a team, it can change the momentum of the game, and yet it is often not given the appropriate amount of attention. Infield play is the difference between a good team and a great team and it can make pitchers better or worse. Catching and throwing ground balls seem like a very simple concept, but so many players get themselves in bad positions to complete this task at a high percentage.

          Fielding a ball in the infield seems like it should be very routine, but many players don’t put themselves in the good position to make it a routine play. Many fielders that I have worked with over the last few years do the same things wrong; they’re too high and bending at the waist, they field the ball too deep, and have their feet opened away from their target. The other thing that I see a lot from young players is their footwork approaching the ball and after the catch. Players don’t put themselves in the right position to make the next move efficient.

          The way that I approach fielding is nothing new, but more so a consistent and simplified approach to achieving the correct position. The best way to simplify the approach is to start from the beginning, the pre-pitch.

          Pre-Pitch:  When infielders are preparing for the play they need to consider a few things; pitch call and hitter tendencies. These two things will allow them to anticipate where the ball is hit and can extend their range. The best way for the fielder to get the best jump possible is to take a small hop right as the ball is delivered. This will leave the feet hitting the ground right after the ball is hit, allowing for the first step to be in the right direction eliminating steps that don’t gain ground.

          Approach: As the fielder approaches the baseball, they should try to get the ball just glove side of the center of their body. Many players take too many steps side to side, which is wasted movements and keep the momentum of the player from heading towards the target. Depending on the speed of the ball and speed of the runner the fielder should attack the baseball as much as necessary, breaking down early to get into the proper fielding position.

          Catching the Ball: When the fielder has made the approach to the ball, they should have a gradually lowered their body into position. Many players try to get low at the last second, often times they are late and this also creates too much eye movement, making it extremely difficult to handle the tough hop. Players should be in the proper fielding position consisting of: bent knees, low butt, hands in front with a good glove angle, good spine angle, and feet even or glove foot slightly in front. The players hands should have the ability to push through the ball or funnel to the center depending of the hop.

          The Funnel & Footwork: After the catch the player should funnel the ball to the center of their body for throwing purposes. All players should start their throwing motion from the center of their body to assure that their arms are in the right position. While funneling the ball the player should gain ground towards the target and put their feet in the proper throwing position. They should also have a good spine angle to help keep the ball on target.

          Throwing the Ball: When throwing the ball the player should have a short arm motion. This is achieved by not allowing the ball to go below the waist. The glove arm should be pointing toward the target, with the throwing hand facing the opposite direction. During the throwing motion, the throwing hand should stay behind the ball. A common mistake that players make is to drop their elbow and the throwing hand falls beneath the ball causing the ball to be thrown high. After the ball is released the arm should follow through creating extension. Along with the extension, the player should follow the throw with their feet at least 3-4 steps. This helps with the direction and distance of the throw.

          The player should attempt to achieve all of these actions on the routine ground ball. There are ground balls that will require different actions, but that is another conversation. 

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