Like other ground baseball drills, backhand drills provide players with unique challenges to conquer, and learning how to backhand a baseball can be a valuable skill for fielders.
In a backhand drill, the player stands in a ready position. When a ground ball is hit to the fielder’s right, he must make necessary changes to get to the ball quickly, field it cleanly on the backhand side, and throw it to first base accurately.
Backhand drills can be valuable baseball skills for beginners and expert players, especially those who play the infield. A backhand is a baseball drill that allows a player to make accurate calculations and meet the baseball in the infield, catching the ball at an accurate position.
This post will provide valuable insights to help baseball players improve their backhand drills to perform better drills infield and perform better throws.
How to backhand the ball infield
It would be best if you first stayed in the correct position to backhand a baseball infield. The most acceptable position for infield backhand is to stand the usual way you do when playing regular infield drills. Standing in the normal infield drill position puts the body at a 45-degree angle.
The infield backhand drill position helps players work on different infield techniques to meet the ball at the appropriate spot.
Infielders can perform a baseball infield backhand in the following way:
Stay in the correct position
Go through your pre-pitch ritual and get in a ready position before the baseball is delivered in front of you.
Set up cone drills
Now that you are standing in the correct position, the next step is to set up cone drills at three or four positions. The first cone is often at the base point where you are to stand at a position ready to backhand the ball. The next cone is often placed some feet away from the first one, where the reach of the throwing hand is located. Note that these cones are guides and won’t be used in actual gameplay.
Practice without the cones
If you have successfully learned the art of positioning, the next step is to remove the cones and practice in actual gameplay. You can practice with a team member to build your confidence in the drill. When practicing, ask your teammate or coach to roll the ball in different directions to help you get used to changing directions.
Practice is an essential aspect of backhand drilling. Therefore, the more you practice, the better you become.
Conclusion
The backhand drill can occur naturally in gameplay, and, in some cases, the players have no option but to perform the backhand drill. This scenario happens most often when a player presents the ball too quickly, and the fielder does not have the luxury of time to play it any other way.
FAQs
How do you catch the backhand?
The procedure for performing a backhand drill is somewhat the same as catching a baseball with a forehand. First, you start in the backhand (45-degree) position, stretch your feet, get your chest closer to your knee, and go for the ball.
Who are infielders?
In baseball, there are primarily four positions of play infield. Infielders are players who are stationed at each of the four defensive positions on a baseball field. The infielders are fielders who are closest to the batter.
How do I get over my fear of fielding a baseball?
Baseball is a game that requires practice, and as you practice, confidence is built with time. Therefore, the best way to get over the fear of fielding is by practicing either in groups or individually.
