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.