Outfield - Where to throw the ball

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Mar 11, 2018
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I'm new to the outfield and I struggle on to know where to throw it when their are outs and runners on base. my ss is also kinda new so she doesn't really tell me where to throw it. Can anybody help me remember where to throw the ball at the right time?
 
Apr 20, 2015
961
93
I'm new to the outfield and I struggle on to know where to throw it when their are outs and runners on base. my ss is also kinda new so she doesn't really tell me where to throw it. Can anybody help me remember where to throw the ball at the right time?
Usually 2 bases in front of your runner. So no one go to 2nd, runner on first go to 3rd, etc. Always try to throw the ball on a line so it can be cut if needed. Especially with a runner on 2 when you're going home. If there's no play someone will cut that ball to keep the runner at first. These rules assume a routine ball hit to you. If you get burned advance your throw one base.

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JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
I'm not sure what the general rule is in softball. Haven't been able to get a good grasp of it with the shorter bases. But in baseball the general rule, unless the ball was hit past you, was to throw 2 bases ahead of where the lead runner started. That was always my guide line durring pre-pitch preperation.

So
No one on, throw to 2nd.
Runner on 1st throw to 3rd.
Runner on 2nd (or 1st & 2nd) throw home.

One of my pet peeves has always been outfielders who throw the ball to 2nd with bases empty on a single. Field the ball, find the runner, if the runner is trying to advance, throw to 2nd, if the runner is holding at 1st, get the ball to your cut off and let them run it in. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen an errant throw from the OF to 2nd FOR NO REASON allow a runner to advance one or two bases. This also trains the OF to find the runner and not to make longer throws than necessary.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I'm new to the outfield and I struggle on to know where to throw it when their are outs and runners on base. my ss is also kinda new so she doesn't really tell me where to throw it. Can anybody help me remember where to throw the ball at the right time?

Just throwing it to her is not a bad plan to start.

Let it be her problem. :)
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Just throwing it to her is not a bad plan to start.

Let it be her problem. :)

Players with a low softball IQ would be well served to get the ball as quickly as possible to their cut off and let them make the decision where to throw the ball. Most younger players who are developing their softball IQs do not have a cannon anyway, and throwing a rainbow to a base may not be a good idea regardless.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
One of my favorite plays this year was a ball hit to LF.

Poor left fielder had no one to throw it to, all the infielders had their backs to her running around. She knows I am going to yell at her if she doesn't throw it. She looks at 3rd, nope back to her. Looks at 2nd, nope backs to her. She just randomly threw it to the pitching circle out of frustration , no one was there either but she got rid of the ball. :)
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
One of my favorite plays this year was a ball hit to LF.

Poor left fielder had no one to throw it to, all the infielders had their backs to her running around. She knows I am going to yell at her if she doesn't throw it. She looks at 3rd, nope back to her. Looks at 2nd, nope backs to her. She just randomly threw it to the pitching circle out of frustration , no one was there either but she got rid of the ball. :)

Not sure what level y'all are playing, but if that happened on my team there was a good chance the SS would be sitting next to me on the bench next inning...
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
First off there is a difference between a relay and a cutoff. A relay is used when a ball is hit back to the fence, usually the 2B or SS. You can never miss a relay high. As the relay person you need to catch or stop all throws or really bad things happen.

Cutoffs on the other hand aren't the real targets. You are trying to throw to that base so that's the target. You merely want to keep it low enough so they can catch it about the shoulders.

As to where to throw it depends on a lot of factors. 2 bases ahead of the lead runner is a good rule of thumb assuming it's normal hit to you. It takes a lot of practice to figure out the best place to throw all of the time. Major league OF's throw to the wrong base some times.

If you want to be a great OF you need to take in the situation. If you have a really fast slapper on 2B and there is seeing eye single to RF you are not going to get her at the plate. On the other hand if it's a slow runner you might have a shot. You have a lot of time to think out there so take it all in and have a plan on what your will do when it's hit. To me the key is to be come up and make the play you want. Don't hesitate and don't half do anything. You can determine after the play if you made the right one and learn from it if you didn't. Don't forget the situation in the game. If you are up 3 runs late in the game with a runner on 2nd you don't want another runner in scoring position so often the best throw is to 2B to keep another runner out of scoring position.
 

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