Softball drill
Elbow shelf wrist snap drill
From one knee, a few feet from a partner, players rest the throwing elbow on the glove at shoulder height and throw with only the forearm and wrist. It teaches a four-seam grip, a high elbow and a clean release off the fingertips.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Throwing
- Ages
- 6U to 10U
- Players
- 2 per pair (any number of pairs)
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- Gloves, One ball per pair, Two cones per pair (optional)
- Indoors
- Yes
The first few minutes of a young team's throwing warm-up are a good time to work on the end of the throw: the grip and the release. In this drill a player kneels close to a partner and props the throwing elbow on the glove, which holds it at shoulder height. With the elbow parked, only the forearm and wrist move, so the player can feel the ball come off the fingertips with backspin.
It is a short drill, five minutes at most, that comes before full throws from one knee and then standing catch. It suits seven- and eight-year-olds learning to find the four-seam grip.
Setup
- Pair players with one ball per pair and put two cones about 6 to 8 feet apart.
- Each player kneels by a cone on the throwing-side knee: right knee down for right-handers, left knee down for lefties.
- The front leg is bent at 90 degrees with the front toes pointing straight at the partner.
How to run it
- Take a four-seam grip, fingers across the wide horseshoe seam.
- Raise the throwing arm so the elbow is at shoulder height and bent at about 90 degrees.
- Tuck the glove under the throwing elbow to hold it up.
- Keeping the upper arm still, bring the forearm forward and snap the wrist to send the ball to the partner.
- Let the ball roll off the fingertips with backspin, fingers finishing toward the target.
- The partner catches, checks their own grip and elbow, and throws it back the same way.
Coaching points
- The glove is a shelf. As long as the elbow sits on it, the elbow cannot sag.
- Check the four-seam grip before every throw. A good grip makes the ball spin straight.
- Front toes at the partner and a wide enough base to stay balanced.
- Forearm and wrist only. No muscling the ball with the shoulder.
Common mistakes
- Kneeling on the wrong knee.
- Front foot turned out instead of pointing at the partner.
- Elbow slipping off the glove and dropping below the shoulder.
- Pushing the ball from the palm instead of letting it roll off the fingertips.
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
Tee ball and coach pitch
Keep partners 5 to 6 feet apart and set each player's grip and elbow shelf by hand for the first few throws. Soft balls make it easier for small hands and safer for small faces.
10U
Have players find the four-seam grip themselves out of the glove and look for straight backspin on every throw, then move on to full one-knee throws and standing catch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which knee goes down in kneeling throwing drills?
The knee on the throwing-arm side. A right-handed thrower kneels on the right knee with the left foot in front; a lefty kneels on the left knee with the right foot in front.
Why put the glove under the throwing elbow?
It holds the elbow at shoulder height and keeps the upper arm still, so a young player can feel the forearm and wrist do the release on their own.
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