How to Catch a Fly Ball While Blocking the Sun

Catching a fly ball in the sun is one of the hardest baseball fundamentals; but lacking this skill can easily lose a close game. This article will take you through the fundamental steps of effectively blocking the sun, in various situations, so you can CATCH THAT FLY BALL!

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baseball glove/mitt
• Sunglasses
• Baseball cap

1. Your sunglasses should already be on before the pitch, especially if you are in the outfield. Flip-down sunglasses are ideal, which you can flip down after you see a fly ball in your direction.

2. If the sun is above/in front of you, you already know you may need to catch a ball in the sun, so be prepared to do the following. Depending on the height of the sun, you will block it in different ways:

3. 
   Credit: Rebecca Chase-Woods

   If the fly ball appears ABOVE the sun, use your glove to block the sun while you look OVER your glove at the ball, keeping the ball just above your glove in your sights. In the outfield, you can block the sun with your glove before the pitch is even thrown, so you're not struggling to block it while the ball is already in the air.

4. 
   Credit: RCW

   If the fly ball appears BELOW the sun, use the bill of your cap (as well as your throwing hand if you wish) to block the sun while you look UNDER the bill at the ball, keeping the ball just under the bill in your sights.

5. 
   Credit: RCW

   Catching a fly ball directly in the sun, which is rarer than it may seem to new outfielders, is the most difficult. Seeing the ball off the bat is extremely important: you will be able to track it at the beginning of its flight. Look through the slats of your glove to find the ball. Remember that if the ball never moves to one side or the other of the sun, it is coming right at you, and you should keep your glove up and open in the sun to catch the ball, always looking to detect any sign of baseball outside the sun's circle. In this situation, crouching low to the ground is helpful both to protect your body in case you miss the ball, and also to get to the ball quicker if it's dropped.

Tips & Warnings

• MOVING TO THE BALL: As with any fly ball, it is best to move quickly to the landing spot and be camped under the ball to make the catch, rather than timing your jog to arrive at the same time as the ball. You can use these same sun-shading methods to track the ball as you move, but they are very hard to employ while running. Communicating to your other fielders that you can't find the ball is very important.
• A fly ball DIRECTLY in the sun is relatively rare. Once you practice catching in the sun, you'll notice that with most fly balls, you can block the sun one way or another.
• Your glove may be open or closed when blocking the sun (it's pictured closed). An open glove may leave less of a chance that you'll drop the ball, but a closed glove may block the sun better. Practice both and choose which one you like more.
• Always keep your eyes and glove up while a sunny fly ball is coming your direction. A common mistake is to turn away to avoid being hit, but this GREATLY increases your chance of being hit with the ball, and prevents you from catching it.

[skinzo89]

on 2/27/2009 Well put together article.

[Biscuit4u]

on 1/14/2009 Great read with lots of great ideas. Great job on the pictures too. Thanks

[Rockster]

on 1/14/2009 Great advice and pictures.
Thanks