On balls that are to the backhand side but that you can get in front of I have always been taught and teach to get the left foot on the 3rd base side of the ball, right left pick up, right left throw. Now with the help of MLB network I have noticed that the vast majority of the infielders do not do this and just make sure the ball is inside of their left foot. What do you guys teach?

On back hands that we have time to get around, we have the right foot forward. We do this because we are picking through the ball and this will get our bodies moving toward first for a quicker, harder throw. It also gives more room to field the ball without the left knee in the way. If your left foot is forward, you will have to take another step away from first to get your throwing side foot down.

I know this seems like little things, but I teach our infielders that we want to do the little things that will get us just a little quicker delivery to first. If we can pick up .2 to.3 seconds, we just threw the runner out by 5-8 feet instead of him being safe. And once the kids see the math, it sinks in that the little things make a difference.

baserunner with a 4.8 40time will run 25 feet/sec. or 2.5 feet every tenth of a sec.

And channel 213 has become one of my new best friends. Lots of good stuff on there.

I would follow the MLB advice. Left foot slightly ahead and field inside the left foot if you can get around the ball. Never back hand if you don't have to. Use your body to keep bad hops in front of you.

I agree with all of you but none of the scenarios is what I am asking about. I am talking about a ball to SS or 2B that is not a back hander, something you can get in front of but a fielder would have a hard time getting completely around. Maybe I am having a hard time explaining this.

There are two times you backhand the baseball. #1 when you realize you can not get all the way around the baseball and you use the backhand because that is the best play to make. #2 when its the only option you have to field the baseball.

There are two types of backhand plays #1 the open backhand (the left foot is behind the right foot) and the closed backhand (the left foot is in front of the right foot). The open backhand should be used in situations where you make the decision to backhand the baseball because thats the best option. The closed backhand is used when the backhand play is the only option to field the baseball and you end up in a closed posistion when you field it.

With the open backhand you are in a much better posistion to field and set up your throw. Your left leg is clear and you can bring the ball to the ear where the throwing hand is at , you then step with the right leg towards your target and make the throw.

An example of a closed backhand would be a smoked ball down the 3B line and the 3B crosses over to backhand the ball just reacting to make a play. He would end up in a closed backhand posistion. An example of an open backhand would be a gb up the middle to the 2b throwing side and as he approaches it and realizes the best play is a backhand he fields it in the open back hand posistion.

I hope this answers your question.

I teach it the same way Coach May does.