Infield Drills

Recommendation

• Do any combination of these drills each time you work out.
• Work on these at least twice a week, but you can do them daily!
• As you do these drills, remember that forehands and backhands are one-handed plays.
• A demonstration to the drills listed below can be found at the top of the page.

Two Knee Pick Series – (8-10 Reps each)

Objective: Isolate the hands and work through the baseball.

Set-up: Knees shoulder-width apart, hips back (not on feet), slight angle forward in chest, hand out front with elbow bent and fingers pointed at the ground.

Instructions:

• Use a wall or have a partner toss you a short hop.
• Be sure we are not cutting across the path of the baseball.
• Do these drills barehand and with glove

Regular:

• Field the baseball and work your hand through the baseball.
• Keep your fingers down as we push through the ball.
• Do this drill with and without our top hand.
• Be sure not to turn your shoulders.

Forehand: 

• Turn towards your forehand side (45-degree angle).
• Keep your fingers down and work through the ball like you are raking the ground with your fingers.
• Do not let your shoulders turn.

Backhand:

• Turn towards your backhand side (45-degree angle).
• Start with your elbow at a 90-degree angle.
• Straighten your arm as you work through the baseball.

Pick Series in Fielding Position – (8-10 Reps each)

Objective: Create a good fielding position and work through the baseball.

Set-up: Regular fielding position (feet a little wider than shoulder width, hips down and butt back, glove out front with fingers down).

Instructions:

• Use a wall or have a partner toss you a short hop.
• Be sure we are not cutting across the path of the baseball.
• Do these drills barehand and with glove.

Regular:  

• Field the baseball and work your hand through the baseball.
• Be sure to keep your fingers down as we push through the ball.
• Do this drill with and without our top hand.
• Be sure not to turn your shoulders.

Forehand:

• Turn all ten toes towards your glove side.
• Drop your throwing side foot back and sink into it.
• Keep your fingers down and work through the ball like you are raking the ground with your fingers.
• Do not let your shoulders turn.

Backhand:

• Turn towards your backhand side (45-degree angle).
• Be sure we are in a balanced position with both feet flat on the ground
• Start with your elbow at a 90-degree angle.
• Straighten your arm as you work through the baseball.
• Feel a slight weight shift from the back leg to the front leg as we field through the baseball.

Right, Left, Catch – (8-10 Reps)

Objective: Work on final two approach steps to the baseball.

Set-up: Stand with feet shoulder width, knees slightly bent, and glove out front.

Instructions:

• Use a wall or have a partner roll a ground ball to your glove side.
• Present the palm of the glove to the ball.
• Take a step forward and towards to ball with your throwing hand foot.
• Step with your glove side foot, landing as you catch the ball.
• Field through the baseball with your glove.
• Work into a throwing position, stepping first with your throwing foot and then glove foot.
• Finish in a proper throwing position (tight V in our throwing arm and front side slightly down).

Toe Up – (8-10 Reps)

Objective: Create rhythm and direction towards target.

Set-up: Regular fielding position with glove side toes in the air.

Instructions:

• Use a wall or have a partner roll you a ground ball.
• Direct glove side toes down as the ball makes contact with the glove.
• Work through the baseball with our glove.
• Replace glove foot with throwing foot and move into a proper throwing position (tight V in our throwing arm and front side slightly down).

Leg Up – (8-10 Reps)

Objective: Create rhythm and direction towards target.

Set-up: Weight on throwing foot with glove side foot in the air.

Instructions:

• Use a wall or have a partner roll you a ground ball.
• Land with heel to toe rhythm as the ball makes contact with the glove.
• Work through the baseball with our glove.
• Replace glove foot with throwing foot and move into a proper throwing position (tight V in our throwing arm and front side slightly down).

Cone-Drills – (5-8 Reps each)

Objective: Work on a good first step and footwork towards groundballs.

Set-up: Feet shoulder-width a part, knees bent, glove out front.

Instructions:

• Can do with no baseballs or a rolled baseball.

Regular:

• Creep in place as you approach the top cone.
• “Hop” into an athletic position where we are ready to move for any type of ground ball.
• Take a step with your throwing foot at a 45-degree angle.
• Emphasize a good first step and be sure we are gaining ground forward.
• Get around the ball (and middle cone).
• Break down to get your body under control.
• Approach the last cone with your throwing side foot then glove side foot.
• Get your glove to the ground with the last cone in between your glove and feet to be sure we are fielding the ball out front.
• Work into a throwing position.

Forehand:

• Creep in place as you approach the top cone.
• “Hop” into an athletic position where we are ready to move for any type of ground ball.
• Drop-step to your glove side allowing us to create depth.
• Work towards the back cone with your glove out.
• Use proper fielding technique for a forehand.
• Work into a throwing position.

Backhand:

• Creep in place as you approach the top cone.
• “Hop” into an athletic position where we are ready to move for any type of ground ball.
• Drop-step to your throwing side allowing us to create depth.
• Work towards the back cone with your glove out.
• Use proper fielding technique for a backhand.
• Work your lower half through the ball, as well as your glove.
• Work into a throwing position.