Title
Three-stage catcher receiving drill using tennis balls and heavy balls to build soft hands, hand strength, and proper framing posture.
Compilation
If this video stacks several distinct drills back-to-back, split it into individual, draggable drills — each with its own clip, steps, and tags.
Coach's take
Great for building: Quick glove action for receiving low pitches and working underneath the ball.
Builds toward Receiving dirty pitches for strikes and blocking errant throws efficiently.
What it is
Catcher works through three receiving progressions: bouncing tennis balls in front of the body to practice tracking and soft hands underneath the ball through to chin height; then using heavy balls to build hand strength and ball-movement speed; finally practicing framing posture by leaning against an inverted chair to reinforce chest positioning and upright receiving mechanics.
What it practices
Develops soft hands, glove-to-chest transfer, hand strength for receiving, and proper framing posture with upright chest during pitch reception.
Focuses on improving
Targets catchers who need to improve receiving mechanics, hand softness on off-speed pitches, and consistent chest-over-knees posture for optimal framing position.
How to run it
2 sets of 10-15 picks per hand.Setup
- 1Catcher puts on full catching gear.
- 2Assume a primary or secondary catching stance on knees at home plate.
- 3Place a bucket of tennis balls next to the glove hand.
Run the drill
- 1Catcher picks up a tennis ball with their bare hand.
- 2Bounce the tennis ball off the ground directly in front, one to two feet away.
- 3React quickly with the glove to 'pick' the ball off the ground as it bounces.
- 4Bring the glove and ball up to chest/chin level, mimicking framing a low pitch.
- 5Drop the ball and repeat the sequence.
Coaching cues
- Work underneath!
- Soft hands.
- Up to the chin!
- Eyes on the ball.
Common mistakes
- Stabbing at the ball instead of working the glove underneath it.
- Not bringing the glove and ball all the way up after the catch.
- Rigid glove action, lacking 'soft hands' to absorb the ball.
Progressions
- Increase the distance the ball is bounced from the catcher.
- Have a partner toss the balls to create varied bounces and trajectories.
- Use a regular baseball for more realistic feel once technique is solid.
Coach notes
transcript
[00:02] Okay, first up we got picks. Okay, tennis balls work best. You're just [00:03] tennis balls work best. You're just going to bounce them right in front. [00:04] going to bounce them right in front. Make sure you're working underneath and [00:06] Make sure you're working underneath and working up to the chin. Next, we got [00:07] working up to the chin. Next, we got heavy balls. It helps our hand [00:09] heavy balls. It helps our hand strengths, helps helps us move the ball [00:10] strengths, helps helps us move the ball faster. And next, you got this chair [00:12] faster. And next, you got this chair drill. Flip it backwards and make sure [00:14] drill. Flip it backwards and make sure you're leaning against it to get that [00:15] you're leaning against it to get that good chest posture when we're framing.