To field a ground ball, start in a low, athletic ready position as the pitch arrives, read the ball early and move your feet to get in line with it, approach under control, field the ball out in front of your body with the glove down and open and your throwing hand ready above it, then funnel the ball into your midsection and move your feet toward the target to throw. Good infielders let their feet do most of the work, choose a comfortable hop, and keep their eyes on the ball all the way into the glove. Mastering this routine turns tricky grounders into outs and builds confidence at every infield position.
This guide covers the ready position, a step-by-step fielding method, techniques for different types of ground balls, footwork for throwing, drills, and the mistakes that cause errors.
The ready position
As the pitcher delivers, infielders move from a relaxed stance into a ready position. Feet are wider than the shoulders, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet, and the glove out in front, open to the plate. Many infielders use a small step or hop, sometimes called a creep step or pre-pitch movement, timed so they land balanced as the ball reaches the hitting zone. Being balanced and on the balls of the feet at contact lets you move quickly in any direction.
Step-by-step fielding
- Read the ball. Watch the ball off the bat and judge its speed and direction. Move early.
- Move your feet. Get your body in line with the ball, or slightly to its glove side, rather than reaching with your arm.
- Approach under control. Many right-handed infielders approach slightly from right to left so their momentum carries toward first base.
- Get low. Widen your feet, bend your knees, and lower your seat, keeping your back relatively flat and your head over the ball.
- Field it out front. Put the glove down in front of your glove-side foot with the fingers touching or near the dirt, and your throwing hand above the glove, ready to cover the ball.
- Watch it in. Keep your eyes on the ball until it is in the glove.
- Funnel. Bring the glove and ball together toward your belly button, securing the ball with the throwing hand.
- Get your feet going. Shuffle or crow hop toward the target, turning your glove-side shoulder toward it.
- Throw. Make a firm, accurate throw with a four-seam grip.
Different ground balls
| Ball | Technique |
|---|---|
| Routine ball hit at you | Two hands, field it out in front, funnel, and throw |
| Ball to the glove side | Crossover step and forehand, reaching out in front when possible |
| Ball to the throwing side | Backhand with the glove open to the ball, staying low and fielding it out in front |
| Slow roller | Charge hard, field it on the run with the glove or bare hand if the ball has stopped, and throw on the move |
| Hard-hit ball | Stay down, keep the body in front of it, and knock it down if necessary |
| Bad hop | Adjust to the short hop or long hop; avoid the in-between hop |
Choosing your hop
Every ground ball bounces, and good infielders try to field it on a hop they can control. The best choices are usually the short hop, just after the ball bounces, or the long hop, when the ball is at the top of its bounce. The in-between hop, where the ball is rising toward you, is the hardest to handle. Read the ball early and adjust by moving forward to take a short hop or staying back to take a long hop. Charging ground balls whenever possible helps you choose the hop rather than letting the ball play you.
Footwork after the catch
Fielding the ball is only half the play. After the funnel, get your feet moving toward your target. Infielders commonly use a quick shuffle, where the throwing-side foot replaces the glove-side foot and the glove side points at first base, or a crow hop when more power is needed. Shortstops and third basemen may need longer throws, while second basemen often have shorter throws and more time. On double plays, footwork around second base varies by position and is practiced separately.
Drills
- Short hops. A partner throws short hops from close range while you field with soft hands, building confidence.
- Rolled grounders. A coach rolls balls to either side so you practice forehands and backhands with correct footwork.
- Wall ball. Throw a ball against a wall and field the rebound, working on quick reactions.
- Fungo grounders. A coach hits ground balls of varying speed and direction to simulate game situations.
- Slow roller drill. Charge slow grounders and throw on the run.
- Glove-less or paddle drills. Fielding with a flat training glove teaches soft hands and using two hands.
Choosing an infield glove
Infielders usually use smaller gloves than outfielders because a shallow pocket allows a quicker transfer from the glove to the throwing hand. Second basemen and shortstops often prefer the smallest gloves, while third basemen may use slightly larger ones for hard-hit balls. The glove should fit comfortably and close easily. Youth players need sizes appropriate for their hands. Break in a new glove through regular catch and fielding so the pocket forms naturally.
Safety note: hard-hit ground balls can take bad hops. Wear appropriate protective equipment as required by your league, keep your eyes on the ball, and practice with softer balls or shorter distances when learning.
Common mistakes
- Standing up too early. Rising before the ball reaches the glove leads to balls going under the glove.
- Reaching instead of moving. Move your feet to get in front of the ball.
- Glove too high. Start with the glove down; it is easier to come up than to go down.
- Fielding between the feet. Field the ball out in front where you can see it.
- Taking your eyes off the ball. Watch it all the way into the glove.
- Stiff hands. Relaxed, soft hands absorb the ball better.
- Rushing the throw. Secure the ball first, then use your feet to throw accurately.
- Waiting on the ball. Letting the ball play you leads to bad hops; attack it when you can.
Frequently asked questions
How do you field a ground ball correctly?
Get into a low ready position, move your feet to get in front of the ball, field it out in front with the glove down and open, funnel it into your body, and move your feet toward your target before throwing.
Should you field a ground ball with one hand or two?
On routine balls, use two hands: the glove fields the ball and the throwing hand covers it. On forehands, backhands, and some slow rollers, one hand may be necessary.
What is the best hop to field a ground ball on?
The short hop, just after the bounce, or the long hop, at the top of the bounce. Avoid the in-between hop where the ball is rising toward you.
