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Softball drill

Pancake glove drill

A partner rolls ground balls to a fielder wearing a flat training glove, which has no pocket to hold the ball. The fielder has to catch out in front with soft hands and cover the ball with the throwing hand every time.

A youth softball fielder low in a wide stance with a flat pancake glove on the dirt as a teammate rolls a ground ball toward it
Video by YouGoProBaseball on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Infield
Ages
8U to 12U
Players
2 (partners)
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Intermediate
Equipment
A flat (pancake) training glove, A few balls
Indoors
Yes

A regular glove lets a fielder get away with stabbing at a ground ball, because the pocket holds on for them. A flat training glove does not. The ball bounces right off unless the fielder catches it out in front, gives with it and brings the throwing hand over the top to trap it.

That makes it one of the simplest ways to build two-handed fielding and a quick transfer to the throwing hand. It takes two players and a few balls, so it fits in a pre-practice warm-up, a gym or a backyard, and players can do it on their own once they know it.

Setup

  • Pair players up about 15 to 20 feet apart.
  • The fielder wears the flat glove. The partner has a ball or two.
  • The fielder starts in a fielding position: feet wide, knees bent, glove out in front and touching the ground.

How to run it

  1. The partner rolls a ground ball straight at the fielder.
  2. The fielder catches it out in front with the flat glove and brings the throwing hand down on top of the ball right away.
  3. The fielder brings both hands up toward the belly together, then rolls or tosses the ball back.
  4. After 10 to 15 balls, switch the glove and the roles.
  5. Once that is clean, the partner rolls balls a step to either side and throws firmer ground balls and short hops.

Coaching points

  • Catch the ball out in front of the body, where the eyes can see it into the glove.
  • Give with the ball. Soft hands absorb it; a hard, stiff glove sends it bouncing away.
  • The throwing hand comes down over the ball the instant it touches the glove.
  • Watch the ball all the way in. With no pocket, a peek at the target means a dropped ball.

Common mistakes

  • Stabbing at the ball, which knocks it off the flat glove.
  • Letting the ball get deep under the body, where the glove cannot give with it.
  • Fielding one-handed and leaving the throwing hand at the side.
  • Rolling the ball too hard at first. Build speed only after the fielder is catching most of them.

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 card

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

By age

10U

Slow, straight rolls from close range. The only goal is two hands every time.

12U

Roll firmer and add short hops, then balls a step to the glove side and the backhand.

14U and up

Use firm throws, more movement side to side and a quick transfer into a throw to the partner.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if we do not have a pancake glove?

Have players field with the glove hand open and flat. The point is to take away the pocket so the fielder has to use two hands.

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