Baseball drill
Four corners fielding drill
One fielder in the middle handles a ground ball, a line drive, a long hop and a short hop in a row from four teammates, then rotates out. A quick, indoor-friendly way to work every kind of ball an infielder sees.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Infield
- Ages
- Coach pitch to 14U
- Players
- 5 per group (run several groups at once)
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- Gloves, One ball per group
- Indoors
- Yes
In a game, an infielder does not get to choose the hop. The four corners drill gives one player four different balls in a row, each from a different direction, so they have to read the ball, move their feet and change how they field it before the next one comes.
It needs no bases, no screen and no hitter, which makes it a good winter drill for a gym or an indoor turf space, and a good warm-up before infield practice outdoors. Five players can get a lot of touches in a few minutes, and a team of twelve can run two groups side by side.
Setup
- Put one fielder in the middle, in a ready position.
- Spread the other four in a half circle in front of them, about 30 to 40 feet away for 10U and older, closer for younger players. Leave enough room between them that the fielder has to turn to face each one.
- One ball per group. The players in the half circle are the throwers; the fielder gives the ball back to whoever threw it.
How to run it
- The first thrower, on one end, rolls or throws a firm ground ball. The fielder fields it and throws it back.
- The second thrower throws a line drive at chest height. The fielder catches it and throws it back.
- The third thrower throws a ball that bounces well in front of the fielder, a long hop. The fielder plays it on the big bounce and throws it back.
- The fourth thrower, on the other end, throws a short hop at the fielder's feet. The fielder picks it and throws it back.
- Go around the half circle two or three times, then rotate: one thrower goes to the middle and the fielder takes their spot.
Coaching points
- Feet first. The fielder squares up to each thrower before the ball is released, not after.
- Stay on the balls of the feet between throws, so the fielder can go forward on the long hop and back on the short hop.
- Glove out in front on ground balls and short hops, with the glove open to the ball and the eyes watching it in.
- Field, set the feet, then throw. A quick, accurate return throw to the chest is part of the drill, not an afterthought.
- Throwers keep the pace up. The next ball comes as soon as the fielder has made the throw back.
Common mistakes
- Fielding the short hop with the glove turned down and stabbing at it. The glove should stay low and come up through the ball.
- Backing up on the long hop and letting it play the fielder. Attack the ball and take it on the big bounce, or come in to make it a short hop.
- Throwing back off the wrong foot because the fielder never turned to face the thrower.
- Throwers making every ball easy. The drill only works if the four balls are different.
By age
Coach pitch
Move the throwers in to 20 to 25 feet, use soft or safety balls, and have a coach make the line drive and short hop throws.
10U and 12U
Use the drill as written. Add a fifth throw, a ball to the backhand side, once the four are clean.
14U and up
Back the throwers up, make the throws harder, and time the group: three trips around the half circle without a missed ball or a bad return throw.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do you need for the four corners drill?
Five: one fielder and four throwers. With a bigger team, run two or three groups at once, each with its own ball, and rotate the fielder every two or three trips around.
Can the four corners drill be run indoors?
Yes. It needs only gloves and a ball, so it fits in a gym or an indoor turf space. Use softer balls on a hard floor, where hops come up faster than on dirt.
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