Hard Hit Ground Balls to the Outfield

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May 12, 2016
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Scenario I am referring to is when there are runners on and the outfielder needs to charge a ground ball. My DD use to play 3rd base and she was pretty good there as well. Over the past couple of years she's been playing solely outfield, she's not the fastest runner, but she reads and tracks the ball really well. I find this issue very ironic, balls in the air, she never makes an error, balls on the ground seem to eat her up. Playing infield for most of her life I would think anything on the ground would be an easy play for her. She seems to always get caught between mid bounce and either fumbles it or scoots off her arm over her shoulder. Looking for advice here. I played outfield all my life and never had this issue, so I'm not sure what to tell except to hit tons of grounders to her in the outfield, but I feel it's her technique/read.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Scenario I am referring to is when there are runners on and the outfielder needs to charge a ground ball. My DD use to play 3rd base and she was pretty good there as well. Over the past couple of years she's been playing solely outfield, she's not the fastest runner, but she reads and tracks the ball really well. I find this issue very ironic, balls in the air, she never makes an error, balls on the ground seem to eat her up. Playing infield for most of her life I would think anything on the ground would be an easy play for her. She seems to always get caught between mid bounce and either fumbles it or scoots off her arm over her shoulder. Looking for advice here. I played outfield all my life and never had this issue, so I'm not sure what to tell except to hit tons of grounders to her in the outfield, but I feel it's her technique/read.
The way you charge a ball in the OF would be unlike anything you would really do at third base, SS maybe (although you don't see many softball SS charge using 1 hand like you do in MLB). Anyway it is possible she is just taking her eye off the ball to peak at the runner? When you hit them to her does she have the same issues?
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
The way you charge a ball in the OF would be unlike anything you would really do at third base, SS maybe (although you don't see many softball SS charge using 1 hand like you do in MLB). Anyway it is possible she is just taking her eye off the ball to peak at the runner? When you hit them to her does she have the same issues?
That's true.. just thought she'd be a little more comfortable fielding a ground ball because of her experience at 3rd.

Yes the problem still exists. Not too make excuses, but some the outfields they play on here are horrendous. Regardless all the girls are playing on the same field and I see my DD struggling more.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
The getting caught on the in between hop requires using your feet properly in order to pick the right hop so that is similar to IF, but again you do less of that at 3rd then you would do at MI. I haven't looked too much for drills for this sort of thing but I am sure there are some out there. I know in the IF I sit about 15-20 feet from my daught and bounce the ball to her and try and have her use her feet properly to pick a good hop. You might be able to do a similar drill for OF having her charge the ball??
 
Aug 20, 2017
1,474
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What technique is she using? We do “do or die” with girls on base and field like an infielder with nobody on? Either way she needs to chop her feet sooner and get her face/chest as close to the ball as possible
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
The getting caught on the in between hop requires using your feet properly in order to pick the right hop so that is similar to IF, but again you do less of that at 3rd then you would do at MI. I haven't looked too much for drills for this sort of thing but I am sure there are some out there. I know in the IF I sit about 15-20 feet from my daught and bounce the ball to her and try and have her use her feet properly to pick a good hop. You might be able to do a similar drill for OF having her charge the ball??
That's what I am thinking.. actually I am not sure if that will do her good or more harm. I think part of the problem right now is she's over thinking it and its making her a little passive, the ball is playing her instead of her playing the ball. 3B you really don't have to worry about it because it's most reacting
 
May 12, 2016
4,338
113
What technique is she using? We do “do or die” with girls on base and field like an infielder with nobody on? Either way she needs to chop her feet sooner and get her face/chest as close to the ball as possible
Personally I don't like the "do or die" until the situation calls for it., bottom of 7 with winning run on 2nd. The again, like I mentioned above she could be more aggressive.

In regards to her technique, she plays it safe when nobody is on.. then she charges passively with runners on, very much like an infielder charging she still uses two hands which I am not a fan of in the outfield
 

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