Making the routine plays will set you apart from the competition.  I know this sounds stupid but I see players do it wrong everyday.

I am going to focus on the first three steps and the last two.  If you start properly your rhythm and timing will be good but your last two steps are the most important on the routine ground ball.

Work around the ball:  no matter your position if you go straight toward the ball you will be heading toward home plate and in turn making your throw longer and off balance.  For this post we will assume you are playing shortstop.  Ping, a routine ground ball is coming right for you at a nice slow pace, slow down, don’t charge it work around it.  Your first three steps should be right foot, left foot, right foot.  More precisely, you will jab step with your right foot to open up and gain depth then step with your left foot toward third base and then step with your right foot again which will square your shoulders up with first base.  Now you are square with first base you still don’t want to charge, you want to softly and slowly cut down the distance while staying under control.  Take small steps to the ball with good rhythm, make sure your feet do not stop.

Right, left, field it:  As you approach the ball you should chop down your steps in order to remain under control, your right foot should come down, your glove should now extend out in front of your body, and you should lower your eye level then bring your left foot down field the ball.  After this it is up to you.  Some people step through and others do a heel click toward first base.  Go with what is comfortable here.  One thing you can not do is step behind, this means instead of going toward first base you actually field the ball and step your right foot behind your left.  Don’t laugh I see it every day.

In later posts I will cover common problems and ways to fix them.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me at samflamont@yahoo.com