In today’s blog post, we are talking a little bit about working the fence as an outfielder.
Working The Fence & Fielding the Ball
Working the fence is important for two reasons. Number one, in terms of being able to get rid of the ball, but also in terms of protecting yourself and not getting hurt.
Fence Types and Ball Behavior
- A chain link fence with some kind of a wind screen is the kind of surface that will kill a ball that hits it.
- A wooden outfield wall or a concrete, brick wall of some sort, will ricochet the ball off much faster.
- Once the ball hits and we’re in position to move it, pick up the ball and get it back in. A brick wall ball’s going to bounce off a little further. We’re going to need to be off the wall a little more so it doesn’t bounce over our head and end up giving up an inside the park homerun unnecessarily.
Fielding the Ball
Once the ball comes off the wall or fence, how do we handle it?
- One situation is a ball that comes off the wall and is dead stopped. The player will go to his throwing side and he’s going to square himself up, then bend down with a bare hand, force his fingers onto the top of the ball, bring his hands back together, get a small crow hop, and hit his cutoff man.
- The other situation is one where a ball comes off the wall and keeps on moving. The player will move to the ball, and with two hands, scoop it to the throwing side, pick it up, get a nice crow hop, and hit his target.
Want more great tips on working the fence? Stay tuned for our next article, which will explore more about working the fence and batter gauging a balls end position, while protecting yourself and not getting hurt. And don’t forget to Like Us On Facebook!