Infield Drill: Baseball Ball-Handling Drill (Baseball & Softball)

Borrowed from basketball, this drill has players move a baseball around their body — head, torso, legs — to build soft hands, grip strength, and comfort handling the ball in any situation.

Baseball Ball-Handling Drill - Video Demonstration

How to Run This Drill

  1. Hold a baseball without a glove
  2. Circle the ball around your head, switching hands as it passes behind
  3. Move to circling around your torso — gradually increase speed
  4. Switch directions periodically
  5. Circle the ball around and between your legs like a basketball player doing ball-handling drills
  6. Mix up the patterns: figure eights, single leg circles, behind the back
  7. Do 30-60 seconds per pattern, focusing on clean transfers and increasing speed
  8. For More Advanced Players: Do it with a glove on to work on transfers

Coaching Points

  • The more you touch and handle a baseball, the better your hands become
  • Builds the hand quickness needed for bad hops and poor feeds at second base
  • Start slow and build speed — dropping it means you are pushing the pace correctly
  • Players can do this at home with zero equipment besides a baseball
  • Create your own little routine that kids can easily do for warmups or at home
  • Have players race to see who is the fastest

Quick Actions

At a Glance

Categories
Infield
Focus Areas
Soft HandsGrip Strength
Age Groups
4-67-89-1011-1213-14
Players
1-30 players
Difficulty
beginner

Equipment Needed

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