In baseball there is the pitcher, catcher, and the fielders. The fielders are supposed to catch the ball what the batter hit, like a ground ball or a fly ball. There are different ways to field a ground ball, there is the normal fielding stance, backhand, and forehand.

Normal Fielding Stance

This is a type of fielding where the ground ball is directly hit to you. These are the steps to field a ground ball in a normal fielding stance.

1. Be in a athletic stance.
2. Legs spread apart.
3. Glove down.
4. Put your hand above the glove.

You will need to have your hand above the glove to secure the ball when you catch the ball in the glove.

Backhand

This is a type of fielding where the ground ball is hit to your non-glove side and where you need to get the glove to your throwing side. These are the steps to field a ground ball in a backhand.

1. Be in a athletic stance.
2. Get your glove to your throwing side.
3. Get the ball in your glove and close your glove.

Since you don’t have your throwing hand to be securing the ball, you will need to close your glove.

Forehand

This is a type of fielding where the ground ball is hit to your far glove side and where you need to reach. These are the steps to field a ground ball in a forehand.

1. Be in a athletic stance.
2. Reach for the ball with your glove.
3. Secure the ball by closing your glove.

For forehand also you will need to close your glove to secure the ball.

Books about baseball are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Many people I mean a lot of people teach kids how to hit a baseball the WRONG way. This is how people teach baseball kids the wrong way:

1. 50-50 balance on the leg.
2. Leg kick
3. Hip rotation
4. Knob to the ball
5. Turn wrists to the ball
6. Extension on the arm
7. Follow through

These were the way or the steps of teaching baseball kids the wrong. Pro hitters do not turn their wrists or not always get the knob to the ball, instead they think of skipping a rock as flat as possible. Then the path of the bat would be more smoother. This would be the correct way or Aaron Judge’s hitting steps:

1. Have most of the weight on the back leg
2. Turn wrists and lean back
3. Think of skipping a rock with the top hand
4. Have hands be on top and bottom of the handle
5. Follow through

These steps are inspired by TeacherMan Hitting. These steps give you a wider vision of the field and better vision of the baseball when hitting. This works for rotational swing and linear swing hitters. The difference between rotational swing and linear swing hitters:

Rotational Swing Hitters:

• Have a more angled swings
• Likely to hit more off speed pitches that are angled more

Linear Swing Hitters:

• Have a flatter swings
• Likely to hit more fastballs consistently.

There are many people with different pitching mechanics in baseball. Why pitchers work on their mechanics is because to prevent them from getting injured. If a pitcher gets injured they wouldn’t have playing time and if they don’t have playing time they wouldn’t get paid. These are the things to watch out for while throwing a ball or pitching to give you best performance without getting injured easily.

Arm Slot

Arm slot could differ for some people but some arm slots isn’t healthy for your muscles or ligaments around the shoulder or the elbow. Shoulders and elbows are the most common injury to have while throwing a baseball. The most healthy arm slot to have a 3 quarter arm slot which is an angle between a side arm and the overhand.

Wrist Snap

This technique doesn’t matter for some people but it may increase pitching velocity for ones who use this. Also this would create less pressure on the elbow and the shoulder. The disadvantage of this technique from my experience is that many off speed wouldn’t have as much movement.

Hip Rotation

This technique helps for all pitchers with different arm slots. Using this technique would give you more explosive power while pitching. This would work if this technique is used correctly, you would need to load your hip before your non-pivot foot touches the ground after the leg kick. And you would need to rotate your hip towards home plate and throw the ball.

All these technique could improve your mechanics while throwing a ball or while pitching. Also these would decrease the probabilities of getting injured.