Become a Vacuum at Shortstop: Mastering the Backhand Play
The backhand play. It separates the good infielders from the great ones. It’s often the difference between an out and a runner reaching base. Being able to confidently field a ground ball hit to your backhand side opens up a whole new range of defensive possibilities. This post will give you actionable drills and techniques to improve your backhand fielding, turning a potential weakness into a strength.
Why the Backhand is Crucial
Many balls are hit just out of reach of a fielder’s forehand. Without a solid backhand, you’re limited in your range, forcing you to dive more often (increasing injury risk) and giving up hits that should be outs. A strong backhand allows you to:
- Cover more ground.
- Make plays on sharply hit balls.
- Turn difficult plays into routine outs.
- Maintain a strong throwing position.
The Fundamentals of a Great Backhand
Before diving into drills, let’s review the key elements of a successful backhand:
- Footwork is King: Get your feet moving quickly! Use a crossover step to get your body in position. The goal is to get your glove-side foot *in front* of the ball.
- Glove Angle: Present your glove with the palm open and slightly angled *towards* the ball. Avoid stabbing at the ball; let it come to you. Imagine catching an egg.
- Soft Hands: Relax your hands and wrists. Absorb the impact of the ball into your glove. Stiff hands lead to bobbles and errors.
- Secure the Ball: Use your throwing hand to quickly secure the ball in your glove after fielding it. This is crucial for a quick and accurate throw.
- Transition to Throwing: After securing, quickly bring the ball from your glove to your ear while moving your body weight to your throwing side foot.
Actionable Backhand Drills
Now, let’s get into some drills you can do solo or with a partner:
1. The Short Hop Drill
Purpose: Develop soft hands and the ability to handle short hops on your backhand.
- Have a partner (or use a wall) roll or softly toss balls that bounce just in front of your glove-side foot.
- Focus on getting your glove down low and letting the ball come to you.
- Work on securing the ball quickly and transitioning to a throwing position.
- Start slow and gradually increase the speed and distance.
2. The Angle Drill
Purpose: Improve your footwork and ability to field balls hit at different angles.
- Set up cones in a semi-circle around your fielding position.
- Have a partner roll balls to different cones.
- Focus on using crossover steps to get your body in front of each ball.
- Work on maintaining proper glove angle and securing the ball.
3. The Rapid Fire Drill
Purpose: Develop quick reactions and hand-eye coordination.
- Have a partner rapidly roll or toss balls to your backhand side.
- Focus on reacting quickly and fielding each ball cleanly.
- Don’t worry about throwing initially; just focus on securing the ball.
- Gradually increase the speed and frequency of the rolls/tosses.
4. The Throwing Progression Drill
Purpose: Combine fielding with accurate throws.
- Start with the Short Hop or Angle Drill.
- After fielding the ball, immediately transition to a throwing position and make an accurate throw to a target (first base, for example).
- Focus on a quick, clean transfer and a strong, accurate throw.
Final Thoughts: Consistency is Key
Like any baseball skill, mastering the backhand takes time and consistent practice. Incorporate these drills into your regular routine, and you’ll see a significant improvement in your fielding ability. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Keep practicing, stay positive, and you’ll become a backhand wizard in no time! Remember, the best infielders are those who can make the difficult plays look easy, and a strong backhand is a crucial component of that.
