I cant catch that good but im first baseman. How do I catch better?

Answer 1

Don't take your eye off the ball.

Answer 2

I was never that good either but I'll give you the best advice I can. The main thing to do is try to put it out of your mind. Take it from me, the harder you try not to drop a ball, the more drops you will have. 2nd, try these little drills I used to use when I was coaching Little League:

First, get a tennis ball and throw it against a hard wall. Do this bare handed because the glove is an extension of your hand. Start off soft and slow at first and once you feel you're comfortable, start going a little harder and try to use 2 hands. What this does, I found, is both improve reflexes and get's you used to catching something coming at you fast. Believe me, it doesn't take that long to master and keep your eye on the ball, this is key.

Another little drill involves 2 people. Get a friend or teammate and have a simple catch but with no gloves. This exercise is designed to get you into using too hands. Don't worry about velocity of the throws because the main goal is using 2 hands.

A third drill is having a catch with a friend or teammate, with gloves, but the catch(no pun intended) here is to keep your glove closed and trying to trap the ball on the back side of the glove with your free hand. This is a basic repetitive exercise to get you using 2 hands as well.

After that, a standard game of catch(a lost art it seems) is the best, again always using 2 hands. If you haven't guessed by now using 2 hands is a huge key in preventing drops and these drills can be fun. You'll surprise yourself at your improvement.

In short, use both hands and keep your eye on the ball and look the ball into the glove. Especially while playing 1st base.

Good luck and let me know how you make out.

Answer 3

First - quit closing your eyes. Then practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.

Several things that may help you -
Usually someone who "doesn't catch well" will have a stiff glove arm, that means locking your elbow. You want your arm to give a little at the elbow when the ball hits glove. Second is that their feet or body are rarely in the right postion and balance is off. And third is that nasty zone around belt high where you can't decide which way to turn your glove... sound familiar? Here is way you can work on most of it by yourself -
Using a tennis ball, bounce the ball off a wall back to yourself to play catch. Concentrate on catching the ball in the center of your body, force yourself to move your feet and bend your knees so the ball is always centered when you catch it. By using a tennis ball, which will bounce out of your glove if you don't bend your elbow and bring it into your glove correctly, it will force you to move faster because it has more action - it also won't hurt if you miss. Don't take it easy on yourself throw the ball and throw it in a way that makes you move your feet from side to side. This will also help you a little with those throws you will get that are short hops or in the dirt - and keep your eyes open and head down. The quickest way to get hit in the side of the head is to turn your head on a ball in the dirt.
For the balls thrown at your waist that seam to handcuff you, just bend your knees and catch them like they were thrown at your chest. You can turn your glove underhand faster than you can the other way and if the ball starts to go too low you just flip it over quickly.
That's about all you can get unless someone is watching you and helping. And that is what a coach should be doing.

Answer 4

Lots of good advice in these answers.

If you can't catch, it might mean that you're at least a little afraid of the ball, even if you may not consciously know it.

The only way to really get over the fear is to practice. Go to the field, and have some friends practice throwing to you from the different infield positions...also, practice catching throws from the outfield.

Not having seen you play, of course, we can only hazard a guess...but I've seen a lot of players who have trouble catching the ball because they are a little afraid of hurting their hand in the act of catching, and will try to position their glove so that the ball goes directly into the pocket...you have to be willing to sometimes catch a ball in such a way that it hits you in the palm, or in the fingers...sometimes you just can't avoid that happening.

You should also practice catching throws that are off line, as well as throws in the dirt. As a first baseman, you'll get plenty of those over the course of a season, and you need to learn how to handle them.

Once you catch a few throws, you'll get over your fear of the ball.

Best of luck to you this season! You got a lot of good advice on this page, hope it helps you!

Answer 5

Im a first basemen too, with the same problem you have, plus Im a lefty making catching quite annoying. Stupid righties.... always getting in my way lol! As previous posters said, practice makes perfect. To avoid injury, though, I suggest that you practice catching with someone who doesn't throw 60 mph. That hurts lol trust me Ive gotten hit with many many baseballs catching. I practice with my cousin, who only throws like 40. This way if you get hit, it wont hurt. Once you get used to the slower speeds, and get better at catching, you can slowly work your way up. Get a nice glove that is well padded (Im sure you know that already, being a first baseman). Also try to go to a baseball camp that works on individual positions more than general fielding/batting. This will give you a chance to improve your skills. Good luck!

Answer 6

good question, I was a lefty first baseman in school and hit well, fielded poorly. Buy a big glove. One that feels comfortable, and just use it to knock the ball down, then grab the ball and complete a play. Practice fielding and accept your downfalls. Try hard and it will come easy, Sincerely, Freddie.

Answer 7

Practice, practice, practice. You have to get to a point where it feels natural to catch the ball, scoop it out of the dirt, reach for it while staying on the bag, etc...It's an old adage, but practice makes perfect.

Answer 8

Practice.

Answer 9

Take your glove and a tennis ball , Find a nice wall (preferably not your garage door ) and just start tossing the ball against it .

Answer 10

get a first base glove if you dont have one and practice being pitched to by the best pitcher for an hour everyday that will help alot