Baseball Fielding – Forehand Ground Balls

How to properly execute the forehand catch when fielding ground balls and line drives.  Fielding a baseball to your forehand is a critical defensive skill that all infielders should master.

Ground ball to Your Left: The forehand play on a Ground Ball or Line Drive.

Baseball fielding tips for the forehand catch

Doug Bernier fielding a ground ball to his forehand. Image by Ed Wolfstein.

Of course, the ideal situation is to have your body squared up to the ball for the catch.

If a ball is hit to your glove side and must be fielded on the run, you want to position your body with a stance that is open to the ball. This means the left leg should be forward or in front, and the right leg is back or behind you.

This keeps us open to the baseball and allows our eyes to stay on the baseball longer.  Keeping the right leg behind the left allows you to field the ball cleanly, without your body getting in the way of your glove.

You may not always get into the ideal position. The most important thing is to keep your movements controlled.

To increase your chances of achieving the optimal positioning every time during a game, you should work on it during your pregame warm-up and practice routines.

Making the Throw.

To make the throw, you have two choices. Which option is the better choice depends on several factors.

—Option 1: Standard Throw.

To make the throw you will need to swing your feet and your shoulders around so you can be in line to where you are throwing the ball. This is more difficult than it sounds when your momentum is taking you in the wrong direction. You must stop and turn to the inside before releasing the baseball.

—Option 2: Spin Throw.

If you are running as hard as you can to get to the ball and are stretched out, you may not be able to stop, readjust and make the throw in time to get the runner.  If this is the case, you have the option to spin and throw.

The downside of a spinning throw is that it can be difficult and disorienting, increasing the chances of making an error. The benefit of the spinning throw is that it allows you to make all that momentum work for you instead of against you. If done right, it will be faster and more powerful.

The key to making an accurate spinning throw is to find your target as soon as possible. Once your eyes find your target, your body and the ball will follow.

Click here for more throwing tips and technique.

The spinning throw is sometimes an important part of how to field a ground ball to the forehand side

Pro Fielding Tip:

Work on both throws for fielding a baseball forehanded during practice, because you will need both of them in the games.

Next Articles on Fielding:
  1. Professional Fielding Tips for Infielders
  2. How to Field Routine Ground Balls
  3. Backhand Plays
  4. Plays on-the-run, and slow rollers

About Author

Avatar für Doug Bernier

Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 5 organizations (CO Rockies, NY Yankees, PIT Pirates, MN Twins, & TX Rangers) over the past 16 years. He has Major League time at every infield position, and has played every position on the field professionally except for catcher. (You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier) Where is he now? After 16 years of playing professionally, Doug retired and took a position as a Major League scout with the Colorado Rockies for 2 years. Currently Doug is the Data and Game Planning Coordinator with the Colorado Rockies

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