Baseball drill
Tap the fence throwing drill
Players stand with their backs a foot from a fence, reach back and tap the ball on the fence behind them, then step and throw. It teaches young players to get the ball back and up, with the hand on top, instead of pushing it.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Throwing
- Ages
- 6U to 10U
- Players
- A whole team at once, spaced along a fence
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- Gloves, One ball per player, A chain-link fence or a wall
- Indoors
- Yes
Beginners often push the ball from beside the ear, like a shot put. Tapping the ball on a fence behind them gives them a spot they can feel: the throwing hand has to reach back and up, with the ball facing away, before the throw comes forward.
A whole roster can line up along a dugout or outfield fence at once, so it takes only a couple of minutes to check every player's arm before catch. A coach can see at a glance who is tapping with the ball and who is tapping with their knuckles.
Setup
- Line players up along a tall chain-link fence, facing the field, with room to throw between them.
- Each player stands about a foot from the fence.
- Each player needs a glove and a ball, with a partner or open field in front to throw to.
How to run it
- Start with the ball in the glove at the chest, feet in an athletic stance.
- Set the back foot parallel to the fence, so the hips and shoulders are sideways to the target.
- Break the hands: the glove side points at the target and the throwing hand reaches back and up.
- Tap the ball lightly on the fence behind the shoulder. The ball touches the fence, not the knuckles.
- Step toward the target and throw out into the field.
- Finish with the throwing hand coming down past the opposite hip.
Coaching points
- The ball touches the fence. That means the hand is on top of the ball, facing away from the head.
- Elbow up near shoulder height on the tap.
- Glove arm points straight at the target.
- Back foot starts parallel to the fence and pushes the hips forward.
Common mistakes
- Tapping with the back of the hand or the knuckles, with the palm facing the sky.
- Standing too far from the fence and leaning back to reach it.
- Dropping the elbow after the tap and pushing the ball forward.
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
Start without throwing, or with soft balls, and freeze on the tap so a coach can check every player's hand before anyone throws.
10U
Tap twice in rhythm, then go straight into a smooth step and throw to a partner about 30 feet away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should the ball, not the hand, touch the fence?
If the ball touches, the palm is facing away from the head at the top of the throw. If the knuckles touch, the palm is facing up, which leads to pushing the ball and more stress on the elbow.
Can we do this drill without a fence?
Yes. Use a gym wall or a cage net, or have a partner stand behind the player holding up a glove as the spot to tap.
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