How to Set Your Feet for Throwing and Fielding in Baseball

Proper mechanics are an essential part to fielding in baseball. One of the sometimes overlooked aspects of your fielding and throwing mechanics is the position of your feet. Here are some tips to help you set your feet for fielding and throwing a baseball.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Prepare for a ground ball. Set your feet a little wider than shoulder width apart. Keep your toes pointing toward home plate with your feet even. Bend your knees and keep your hands low so that you are ready when the baseball gets to you.
2. Step through quickly to throw a ground ball. Once the ball is in your glove, you must move your feet to throw. When throwing in the direction opposite of your handedness (for instance, throwing to your left if you're right handed) you need to cross your back foot across your front and then step through with your front foot. If throwing the other direction, you need to pivot on your front foot and bring the back foot forward to throw. Quickness is important because you need to deliver the ball faster on the infield.
3. Set your feet for a fly ball. Waiting for a fly ball differs a little from a ground ball because you have more time, as long as you're not chasing the ball. Set your feet so that your back foot is the same as your throwing arm. Keep your feet about a step apart.
4. Use a long stride to add more power to a throw from a fly ball. Like throwing a ground ball, you need to cross your back foot in front of your front foot, and then stride through to throw. You can use a longer stride to get more power on a fly ball, instead of focusing on quickness like a ground ball.
5. Follow through on your throws. Setting your feet for fielding and throwing is important, but setting your feet for your follow through is vital as well. After you stride and the ball has left your hand, be sure that both of your feet land securely on the ground. You do not want to be stumbling after a throw, because it is a sign that your balance is probably off during the throw and your ball is not going to be accurate.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay relaxed. It is important to set your feet well, but if you think about it too much you may get rigid and not be able to move as fluidly.
• Don't lock your knees when you set your feet. At best, your stance will be rigid and at worst, you could seriously hurt yourself. Always keep your knees slightly bent.