Baseball drill
Backhand cone drill
A fielder moves to a cone on the backhand side and fields a ground ball rolled just outside it, first letting it hit the back foot to check position, then catching it out in front. It teaches the footwork and glove position of the backhand.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Infield
- Ages
- 10U to High school
- Players
- 2 (a coach and a fielder, or partners)
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Equipment
- Gloves, Two cones, A bucket of balls
- Indoors
- Yes
The backhand is the play young infielders fear most, and usually it is because their feet never get them to the right spot. They reach across the body with the glove and hope. This drill takes the guesswork out: one cone is the start, a second cone on the backhand side is the spot to get to, and the coach rolls the ball right past it.
The first part does not even need a catch. The fielder lets the ball roll into the toe of the back foot, which tells them right away whether the body was lined up with the ball. Then they field it for real. It fits in a gym, a cage or the corner of a field.
Setup
- Set two cones about 6 to 8 feet apart, side by side.
- The fielder starts in a ready position at the first cone, with the second cone on the backhand (throwing-hand) side.
- The coach kneels or stands about 15 to 20 feet away, in line to roll a ball just outside the second cone.
How to run it
- On the coach's cue, the fielder moves quickly to the second cone and gets low.
- The coach rolls the ball just outside that cone.
- First round: the fielder sets up so the ball rolls into the toe of the back foot, without fielding it. That checks the position.
- Second round: the same move, but the fielder catches the ball on the backhand, out in front of the lead foot.
- After the catch, the fielder brings the ball to the middle of the body, sets the feet and makes a throwing motion. Do six to eight each round.
Coaching points
- The first step is quick and direct toward the cone, not backward.
- Get the hips low and the chest over the toes before the ball arrives.
- Field the backhand out in front of the body, not back between the feet.
- Watch the ball into the glove, then square up to the target before throwing.
Common mistakes
- Crossing the feet in a way that leaves the fielder off balance at the cone.
- Letting the ball get too deep, which ties the fielder up with no room to throw.
- Standing up before the ball is in the glove.
- Throwing without turning the shoulders back toward the target.
Printable drill card
Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.
Print the drill cardSmaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).
By age
10U
Spend most of the time on the first round, letting the ball hit the toe, so players learn where their body belongs.
12U and 14U
Roll firmer and ask for a quicker move from the catch to the throwing position.
High school
Add a real throw to a first baseman after each backhand to finish the play at game speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why let the ball hit the back foot first?
If the ball rolls into the toe, the fielder's body was lined up with it. If it misses, they know they did not get far enough, or went too far, before any catch is involved.
Should a young infielder cross over or shuffle on a backhand?
Over a short distance like this one, a quick shuffle keeps the chest facing the infield. On a ball farther away, a crossover step covers ground faster.
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