Reading Hops

Reading the ground ball

The first thing a fielder must do is "read" the ground ball. To read the ball means to judge its movement, which will dictate how you position your body to field it. The first question to ask yourself is: "Is the ball rolling or skipping?" 

Rolling 

When you see a rolling ball, you need to attack it. We know this means moving in a more forward direction.

For a play at first base, maneuver yourself to the third-base side of the ball. Then, field the ball off your left foot while your momentum carries you toward first base.

Skipping

When you see a skipping ball, your job is to settle and judge the hops. Your goal is to position your body to field either the long hop or the short hop. These are the two easiest and most reliable locations to make a play, which helps reduce errors.

• The short hop avoids a bad hop because you catch the ball almost immediately after it leaves the ground.

• The long hop gives you enough room to judge and adjust to the bounce before the ball gets to you.

The key is to avoid getting caught in-between hops. Being in the wrong spot means you're too far for a short hop and too close for a long one, which is where most errors happen.