Softball drill
Tennis ball drop and snatch drill
A player holds a tennis ball out at eye level, lets it drop, and snatches it out of the air with the other hand before it falls past the waist, then repeats from that hand. A quick solo drill for hand speed and grip.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Catching the ball
- Ages
- 6U to 12U
- Players
- 1 (any number, one ball each)
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Equipment
- One tennis ball per player
- Indoors
- Yes
Catching is not only about watching the ball. The hands also have to get there fast and close firmly. This tiny drill works on that with nothing but a tennis ball: drop it from one hand and grab it with the other before it falls. Players can do it alone, in a small space, while they wait for a turn at another station.
It is a good warm-up for the hands before catching drills and a simple thing to send home. Players can count how many they get in a row, or how low the ball falls before they catch it.
Setup
- Each player has one tennis ball and no glove.
- Players stand with feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, with room around them.
- Hold the ball at eye level in front of the body, palm down.
How to run it
- Hold the ball out at eye height with one hand; the other hand waits near the chest.
- Let go without pushing the ball up or down, so it drops straight.
- Snatch it with the other hand, palm down, before it falls past the waist.
- Bring that hand up to eye level; it now drops the ball.
- Keep going, alternating hands on every drop, for 30 seconds or a set of ten.
Coaching points
- Just open the fingers. Tossing the ball up buys time and defeats the drill.
- Grab the ball from above or the side and squeeze firmly.
- Keep the head still and the eyes on the ball at the release point.
- Find a steady rhythm from hand to hand.
Common mistakes
- Pushing the ball upward before letting go.
- Swiping at the ball with an open hand instead of closing on it.
- Standing stiff with locked knees.
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
Coach pitch
Let the ball drop farther, down to the knees, and catch it with the palm up if palm down is too hard.
10U and 12U
Catch it before it passes the chest, or drop from the arm held out to the side to make the reach longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good catching drills to do alone?
Drills like this one, a self-toss with the glove, or catching off a wall need only one player and a ball. They are good for the days between practices.
More drills
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