Pro Step or Crow Hop?

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Jun 7, 2012
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Coaches-

As we are running our summer camps/clinics, I was hoping to get your input on which one, the Pro Step or the Crow Hop, you all are teaching in the OF and why? Pros/Cons to each would be helpful, and any specific anecdotal evidence to support your claims always welcome.

Our program models both but leaves it to the player to decide which one is more comfortable/suitable; I have a tendency to lean towards pushing the Pro Step, but many of my players have excellent crow hops too.

In addition, I'm wondering if field dimensions and/or playing surfaces should have any bearing on the decision to teach one over the other. Our home field is 220 down lines and 230 down CF, turf with an all-dirt IF, and lots of foul territory room. Hence, the balls get to you quickly but the running paths are equally fast. But we do play at several fields that are natural grass and much smaller than ours too.

During our spring break trip to TN this year, I found a combination of both being used by outfielders. Trinity Christian and Daniel Boone, both out of TN, had some girls who could really Pro Step out of the OF...it was very impressive. Appeared to get rid of the ball faster than what a crow hop would've allowed.

Let me know what you think when you have a chance, and thanks in advance.
 
Jun 7, 2012
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Teach both and the let the player use whatever the player prefers as a natural step.

What do you call the old-school one I saw in an Alabama video? Not really a crop hop, was more like a flying bicycle step! I remember the pro baseball players doing that when I was a kid.

Yes, I think my coach called that the "running skip" when I was a little kid. That's what we have been doing up to this point, letting them decide what's most comfortable. Thanks for the reply.
 
May 17, 2012
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What exactly is the "Pro Step"? I googled but all I saw were videos (can't view).

I like learning new things... :)
 
Jul 16, 2008
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Oregon
I personally like the "Drive Step" (is that the same thing as pro-step?) Seems like the crow hop gets the weight going up instead of going toward the target. We teach both but put more time into the drive step.
 
Oct 1, 2014
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USA
Any new thoughts or discussion on this subject? What do you want your outfielders doing (given that they have a decent arm and can take the proper route to the ball)? I'm talking about high level TB or college ball.

Thx!
 
Sep 29, 2014
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So I watched a bunch of OF "greatest arms" videos and it looks like most guys use some kind of crow hop type mechanics but interesting enough closer examination shows players including Ichiro (my fav OF arm) and the interesting thing was they actually used variations of both.

Most common was if they were charging the ball hard or lined up perfectly behind it with a timed run they use a crow hop but if they were fooled a little and ended up under the ball or had basically stopped on a ball coming off the wall or sideways where they had no forward momentum they used more of a pro step technique.

So without really putting to much thought into it I think it does make sense with all your momentum going forward the crow hop seems logical. If you are a little more flat footed just kind of lean back and throw.....two cents worth
 
Oct 1, 2014
2,219
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USA
Thanks DJ, I can see teaching both methods and letting the kid decide based on the situation but we've got a case where the new team coaches are demanding the crow hop and it just doesn't seem right (in fact it seems like a big step backwards). I'd love to see a side by side drill using both methods and average out the results...pretty sure where I'd place my money.
 
Sep 29, 2014
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Although I think there are variation of each, I don't think the running two steps, hop, land, push off, throw off front foot is an ideal crow hop technique; a hop step behind and throw seems better but is probably more crop hop than pro style, I've seen others advocate more of a side shuffle that almost comes closer to mimicking infield technique.

Again I think angles and technique matter. If you are running to the side versus straight at the ball it will make a big difference or what if you have to backpedal a few steps on a ball that carries on you. I think if you say for ball that you are charging you should use a crowhop type motion is OK as long as they are not going to nitpik if there is a little shuffle or back step in there. I think the point is they want your momentum continuing forward through the ball and throw. Now on balls that are at different angles or your momentum is not forward crowhoping does not really make sense IMO.
 

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