Drills for 3rd base

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May 12, 2014
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DD’s team has a new coach and she wants to move DD from CF to 3rd. DD has never played 3rd. What are some drills to get quicker hands since 3rd tends to be a reactionary position?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Hard position.

IMO she has to position herself correctly before the pitch depending on game situation.

I used to put DD against fence because I did want to chase the ball and threw balls at her, like dodge ball movie.

(Facemask is required)
 
Last edited:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Not to get into a face mask conversation, I do not care what other people or players do but ...

Some teams position 3rd what seems like 20 or 30 feet from batter, like if a lefty slapper is up. Our team does not but we do not face a lot of slappers. If your team does this I would highly recommended she wears a mask.
 
Sep 17, 2009
1,637
83
Ball everydays.



The next step, just starting as the video ends, is same drills with glove on.

After that, move to standing short hops with thrower about five feet away. -- 10 middle ten backhand ten forehand side. Then move thrower back to ten feet and 10 charging glove flips.

After that, especially for third basemen, we like to do rapid fire. Ready position, three balls short hop rapid fire: middle, back, fore. Do that a 10 times. Then do three balls short hop without telling them the pattern. Another 10 times.
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
I would suggest Kobata's DVDs for footwork. Specifically off foot throws, cuts, and bunt coverage defense (footwork).

You can drills from now until the end of time and still not be a better defensive 3B. If this were true I could make anyone a great defensive player by simply doing drills (investing time).

You need foundation. There are others besides Kobata, but I like most of his stuff.
 

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