Unless the fielder is sure the ball is in front of him, his first step should always be back. Outfielders often struggle most reading line drives right at them. If the outfielder takes his first step back, then he can more easily adjust to come in on the ball.
“The reason guys catch with one hand is because it looks cool,” said Phillies outfielder Matt Stairs, a part-timer who understands full well that his best fielding position is pinch-hitter. “That’s the whole point of this game, remember, you’ve got to look good out there.”
The reason to drop with your throwing hand is if you need to switch sides as your running back on the ball it’s much easier to switch from your throwing hand side to your glove hand side and make the catch then the other way around. One of the most difficult fly balls to judge is the ball hit directly at you.
Outfielders need to be fast and have a strong arm. Typically center fielders need the most speed and right fielders need the strongest arm (so they can make the throw to third base). Of course, outfielders need to be able to consistently catch fly balls on the run.
Speed: While you don’t have to be the fastest person on the field, you should be pretty fast. Tracking down fly balls requires some speed, but always remember that the center fielder is the captain of the outfield.
A crow hop is a small jump in the air that helps you get momentum and gather yourself to make the strongest throw possible. You can use it for fly balls and ground balls.
Professional baseball players field a minimum of 50 ground balls per day - either before batting practice, during batting practice or both.
Tee work is essential to get used to that brand new wood bat, before taking soft toss or facing pitches from a coach or machine. Being a team game, baseball can be difficult to practice without other people around.
Free Diagnostic Tool for Infielders- Inconsistent fielding.
Feeling rushed.
Throws that are weak or off target.
Balls that bounce off your glove or roll up your arm.
Not looking “smooth” enough to attract attention of coaches & recruiters.
Uncomfortable with your backhand or forehand.
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder.
Be sure player is using correct fielding technique of two hands (thumb-to thumb) to catch the ball when it hits the glove. When the ball hits the glove the player should squeeze the glove and use the second hand to close the glove, so the ball does not pop out.