Article Date: Mar 2
Baseball Tips
"Catch the Ball with Two Hands!" NOT! Since we were little kids we had that axiom drilled into us. But the reality is that it is not an effective coaching phrase. There are many baseball plays that require fielding the ball with one hand instead of two. In many instances it's better to say, "Catch the ball with one hand!"
When you catch the ball with one hand you have more "reach." Try it. Hold both your arms straight out in front of your body and reach. Now put one arm out and reach. See how much more range you have?
The plays better made with one hand are:
- All catches at first base- better reach.
- Ground balls going to your left.
- The backhand.
- Receiving a thrown ball in a rundown.
- Slow roller.
- Any fly ball where you have to run down left or right.
- Fly balls where you have to "lay out" or dive for.
- Tag plays.
Two hand plays are:
- Routine ground balls in front of you.
- Receiving a throw as the pivot on a double play.*
- A routine fly ball in front of you. (Although I wouldn’t say anything to a player who caught it with one hand.)
- Receiving a thrown ball as the cutoff or relay man.*
*The reason for having both hands close together on these plays is so that you will be quicker taking the ball out of your glove.
