Baseball drill
Flat paddle catching drill
A player wears a flat training glove and lets underhand tennis-ball tosses hit the center of it from different angles, without trying to catch them. It teaches the glove angle for every spot, high, low, forehand and backhand, before the glove has to close.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Catching the ball
- Ages
- 6U to 12U
- Players
- 2 (a tosser and a player)
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- A flat training glove (pancake glove), A bucket of tennis balls
- Indoors
- Yes
A regular glove can hide a bad angle: the ball sometimes sticks even when the pocket was not facing it. A flat paddle cannot. If the paddle is square to the ball, the ball hits the middle and drops at the player's feet; if not, it glances off to the side. That makes it a clear, honest way to teach where the glove should face.
The player does not try to catch. They only get the paddle to the right spot with the right angle and let the ball tap it. It fits right after a barehand drill that teaches the hand angles, and right before players put their real gloves back on.
Setup
- The player puts a flat training glove on the glove hand and stands in a ready position.
- The tosser stands 8 to 10 feet away with a bucket of tennis balls.
- No flat glove? A stiff piece of cardboard on the hand works for this drill.
How to run it
- The player holds the paddle up in front of the chest, ready to move.
- Toss tennis balls underhand to different spots: high, low, glove side and backhand side.
- The player turns the wrist so the flat face of the paddle meets each ball square.
- The ball taps the middle of the paddle and drops softly to the ground. No trapping.
- Do 10 to 15 tosses, moving the ball around the body, then switch to the regular glove and repeat a few.
Coaching points
- Listen for a clean thud from the middle of the paddle. That means the angle was right.
- Get the paddle to the spot and let the ball come to it. No swatting.
- On balls below the belt, the fingers point down toward the ground.
- Keep a steady pace so the player has to adjust the wrist on every toss.
Common mistakes
- Swinging the paddle at the ball, which sends it flying.
- Leaving the paddle facing the same way on every toss.
- Tossing too hard. A tennis ball off a flat surface bounces back, so keep the tosses soft.
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
Use mostly chest-high tosses to the glove side and the middle, then add low tosses. A coach should do the tossing.
10U and 12U
Mix all four spots at random and add a little speed. Infielders can use the same paddle for short hops later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pancake glove used for?
A pancake glove is a flat training glove with no pocket. Because it cannot close on the ball, the player has to present it at the right angle and use two hands, which builds good glove habits.
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