If you want to take your infield game to the next level, drills are a must.
Personally, I’ve found that sticking to the basics is what helps players truly improve. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the game for years, working on the fundamentals is what sets the great infielders apart.
In this post, I’m going to show you the 10 best infielder drills that I believe every player should be doing in 2024. These drills aren’t just for pros—anyone can benefit. Trust me, you’ll notice a difference.
10 Best Infielder Drills
1. The Pancake Glove Drill
If you haven’t used a pancake glove before, you’re missing out. It’s all about getting your hands softer and more controlled when fielding. Now, you won’t field this way in an actual game, but the drill really helps you feel the ball better.
For example, you can have a coach or teammate roll ground balls your way, and instead of catching them with a regular glove, you use the pancake glove. This forces you to focus on controlling it with soft hands. I’ve found it super helpful, especially for younger players who are still working on their glove skills.
2. Backhand Drill
There are two types of backhand drills I recommend:
Throwing-Side Foot Backhand Drill
This is for those hard-hit balls just to your backhand side. Start by positioning yourself with your throwing-side leg extended forward (right leg for right-handers). Pivot that foot so the instep faces your coach or partner, and drop your opposite knee to the ground.
The coach or partner rolls the ball directly toward your front foot. The focus here is on catching the ball with a relaxed wrist, squeezing the glove, and then bringing it to the center of your body. As you get better, try raising your trail knee a few inches off the ground to increase the difficulty and build some conditioning into the drill.
Glove-Side Foot Backhand Drill
This version helps you reach farther to your backhand side. To start, step your glove-side leg (left leg for right-handers) across your body. Drop your right knee to the ground to create a wide base. The key here is to catch the ball slightly off your front foot, still out in front of your body.
The coach should roll the ball towards your glove, and like before, you want to keep your wrist relaxed and focus on bringing the ball to your center. As you get more advanced, lift your trail knee a bit to add more challenge and conditioning to the drill.
3. Mini Wiffle Ball Drill
The idea here is simple: if you can catch a tiny mini wiffle ball, fielding a real baseball will feel like a breeze. The focus is all on precision.
For example, you can set up a mini wiffle ball pitching machine to toss these little balls at you. You’ll need to focus intensely on each one since the smaller size makes it harder to catch. If you’re able to snag those mini wiffle balls, catching full-sized baseballs in a game becomes much easier.
4. 3 Cone Tag Drill
The 3 Cone Tag Drill focuses on combining quick footwork with tagging, something infielders often don’t practice enough. You’ll need three cones and a few baseballs for this one.
To set it up, place the three cones in a triangle shape. The idea is to have the player start at one cone, move quickly to another cone, and simulate tagging a runner.
For example, a coach or teammate can roll a ball to the player as they move between the cones, and the player has to field the ball and apply a tag as if a runner were sliding in. This drill keeps you on your toes and helps develop the quick reflexes and fast hands necessary for applying tags in real-game situations.
5. Short Hop Drill
The goal of this drill is to help you get comfortable with scooping the ball out of the dirt.
Here’s how you can run this drill: have a coach or teammate throw or roll the ball toward you so that it bounces right in front of you—this is the short hop. Focus on positioning yourself low and timing your scoop so that you’re picking the ball just as it bounces.
For example, try to catch the ball with soft hands and make sure your glove is angled correctly to scoop it cleanly out of the dirt. After enough repetitions, you’ll start to feel more confident and ready to handle short hops in actual games.
6. 4-6/6-4 Double Play Drill
Line up one group at shortstop and the other at second base. The coach rolls a ground ball to the first player at shortstop. At the same time, the first player in the second base line runs to the bag, puts their left foot on the base, and raises both hands at chest level as a target.
The shortstop fields the ball and performs an underhand flip to the second baseman, who catches it with their right foot moving toward the ball. The second baseman returns the ball to the coach, and both players move to the end of the opposite lines.
Once everyone is comfortable, switch roles and work on the 4-6 double play, reversing the positions. For the 4-6 drill, the shortstop should place their right foot on the bag and step toward the ball with their left foot. As players improve, you can add a throw to first base to complete the double play.
7. High Five Drill (Underhand Flip)
The underhand flip is an essential skill for infielders, and this drill helps build it from an early age. Players line up 10-15 feet from the coach in a basic ground ball position—wide base, butt down, and hands in front.
The coach rolls a ball toward the player, who fields it, generates momentum toward the coach, and performs an underhand flip. The key is to keep the hand high at head level, with a stiff wrist and no extra arm movement. After completing the flip, the player follows through and gives the coach a high five, keeping their hand high the entire time.
8. Box Drill - (Underhand Flip) Short to Second
In this drill, four players form a box, standing about 25 feet apart (you can adjust the distance for younger players). A fifth player stands behind one corner. The goal is to practice making accurate underhand flips while moving around the box.
To start, the first toss comes from a corner where two players are standing. The player faces the corner to their right, shuffles their feet or crosses over, and flips the ball to the player at the next corner, keeping the hand high with a stiff wrist and no extra arm movement. Once the toss is made, they follow the flip to that corner.
The receiving player catches the ball, generates momentum, and makes the next flip to the following corner, repeating the process.
9. Box Drill - (Underhand Flip) Second to Short
This drill is similar to the previous one, but now the tosses go in the opposite direction—from second to short. The key difference here is that players must keep the hand with the ball in front of their body without turning or swinging the arm.
To begin, four players form a box, standing about 25 feet apart (adjust for younger players). A fifth player stands behind one corner. The first toss comes from a corner with two players. Each player faces the corner to their left, shuffles their feet or crosses over, and flips the ball to the player at the next corner.
The ball hand stays in front of the body at all times, and the wrist remains stiff to ensure accuracy. After making the flip, follow through and move to the next corner.
10. Rolled Ground Balls
This drill may seem simple, but it’s highly effective for players of all ages. It focuses on proper fielding fundamentals and positioning. Players assume a basic ground ball stance—wide base, butt down, and hands out front. The coach rolls the ball from about 10 feet away to start, ensuring players focus on catching the ball out in front, with their eyes following it into the glove.
Once players are comfortable, the coach can move back and roll the ball harder to increase the difficulty. This drill also doubles as a great conditioning exercise, as players can be asked to hold the ground ball position for several reps to feel the burn in their thighs. It’s simple but highly effective for building solid fielding habits.
Keep Practicing and Have Fun Out There
Getting better at infielding takes time, but if you stick with these drills, you’ll start seeing real improvement. The key is consistency—keep practicing, stay positive, and make sure you’re having fun. After all, baseball is meant to be enjoyed. With time, you’ll feel more confident and precise in the field.