How to Turn a Double Play: Footwork, Feeds, and Drills
To turn a double play, the infielder closest to the ball fields it and delivers a quick, chest-high feed to the pivot player covering second base. That pivot catches, touches the bag, clears the runner, and fires to first. The whole thing lives or dies on footwork and a clean, catchable feed, not on arm strength. Get those two right and you turn two outs in about four seconds.
Below is exactly how the shortstop and the second baseman each turn the play, which feed to use from every angle, and the drills that make it automatic. Diagram it on a board first, then rep it on the dirt.
Why is footwork the whole ballgame on a double play?
A double play is a race against the batter running to first, and you only have about four seconds to record two outs. You cannot win that race by throwing harder. You win it by shaving tenths of a second off the transfer and the footwork at second base. That is why coaches teach the turn as a rhythm: catch as you cross the bag, get your feet in line with first, and release. Rushing the arm creates wild throws. Cleaning up the feet creates outs.
The same footwork applies to softball, just on a 60 foot diamond instead of 90 feet, so the margins are even tighter and the feeds have to be even cleaner.
How does the shortstop turn the double play (6 to 4 to 3)?
On a 6 to 4 to 3, the shortstop fields the ground ball and feeds the second baseman covering the bag. The shortstop has the easier turn because they are already moving toward second base. The key is the feed: deliver the ball firm, chest high, and slightly to the first base side of the bag so the pivot man can catch and throw in one motion.
How does the second baseman turn the double play (4 to 6 to 3)?
The second baseman has the harder turn because their back is to first base and the runner is bearing down on them. Their job is to receive the shortstop's feed, touch the base, and clear the sliding runner while still throwing accurately to first. There are three common pivots, and which one you use depends on where the feed takes you.
Straddle the bag, catch, drag the back foot across, and throw. The fastest turn when the feed is accurate and on time.
Catch with the left foot on the bag, push back off the base toward right field, and throw from behind the bag to avoid the runner. Safest against a hard slide.
Catch on the run, step across the front of the bag with the left foot, and throw. Good when the feed pulls you toward the first base side.
Which feed should each fielder use?
The feed is chosen by distance and angle, not by preference. A good rule: the closer you are to the bag, the softer and more compact the feed. Here is the quick reference coaches put on the board before infield work.
Ball fielded right next to the bag. Firm underhand flip with a stiff wrist, show the ball early, no spin.
Ball fielded to the glove side near second. Flip out of the glove without rotating the body.
Medium distance in the hole. Plant, turn the chest to the target, and deliver an overhand throw.
Long feed from the shortstop hole. Shorten the arm action and throw firm and chest high, accuracy over velocity.
What drills build a faster, safer double play?
You do not need a full team to rep the turn. These four drills isolate the footwork so it becomes automatic under pressure.
Custom Pro Baseball or Softball Whiteboard w/ Handle
Diagram the feed, the pivot, and the throw to first with a full infield on the front and a blank half for drills on the back. Two sided, dry erase, and built to travel from the dugout to the dirt.
Double play questions coaches ask
The pivot man is the fielder covering second base who catches the feed, touches the bag, and relays the throw to first. On a ball to the shortstop it is the second baseman, and on a ball to the second baseman it is the shortstop.
At the highest level a double play takes about 4.0 to 4.5 seconds from contact to the out at first, and the pivot itself, catch to release, happens in under a second. For youth teams, getting the lead out reliably matters more than speed.
Usually yes. On a 6 to 4 to 3 the shortstop is already moving toward the bag, so the feed and turn flow together. The 4 to 6 to 3 is tougher because the second baseman must turn with their back to the runner.
Teach the rock back pivot. The fielder catches with a foot on the bag, then pushes back off the base away from the runner before throwing. Getting off the bag is the single biggest key to avoiding contact.
The most common turn is catching on the run, tagging the inside corner of the bag with the left foot, and stepping toward first to throw. Staying low and keeping momentum toward first base is the priority.
Yes. Two players and a base are enough. Rep feeds and pivots in pairs, then add a runner to practice clearing the slide once the footwork is clean.
Draw it up, then go rep it
Players learn the double play faster when they can see the feed, the footwork, and the throw laid out on a real infield. A custom two sided baseball and softball board lets you diagram every pivot in the dugout and hand it to your infielders on the dirt.
