How to Turn a Double Play Faster Like Francisco Lindor
To turn a double play faster like Francisco Lindor, get to the bag early, catch and transfer the ball in one motion near the center of your body, and use clean footwork to clear the runner and throw in rhythm. Lindor makes it look easy because his hands are quick and his feet are organized, so the ball barely stops moving from glove to throw. This guide covers the footwork at second base, the fast transfer, and the drills that shave tenths off your double play.
What makes a fast double play?
A double play is a race, and it is won in the small moments: how early you get to the bag, how cleanly you catch the feed, and how fast the ball goes from your glove to your throwing hand. The throw itself is rarely the problem. The time that costs runners is the transfer, the fraction of a second it takes to get the ball out of the glove and into a grip you can throw.
Francisco Lindor is a model of efficiency. He reads the ball off the bat, gets to second base under control, and catches and transfers in one smooth motion so there is no wasted movement. Nothing he does is rushed, it is just organized. That is the goal: quick, not hurried. Clean footwork and fast hands beat raw arm strength on the turn every time. A shortstop and a second baseman also turn the play differently, so you have to rehearse your footwork from the side you actually play until it needs no thought in the moment.
What footwork should you use to turn two?
Get to the bag early so you are set and waiting, not still moving when the feed arrives. Give the fielder a target, catch the ball near the middle of your chest, and bring your hands to your throwing side as your feet clear the base. Your footwork should carry you away from the incoming runner so you can throw from a safe, balanced position. The exact steps change depending on where the feed comes from, but the principle holds: receive, clear, and throw in one connected motion.
| Step | What to do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Get to the bag | Arrive early and set a clear target with your glove | Drifting to the bag late and catching on the move |
| Receive | Catch near the center of your body for a quick transfer | Reaching with the glove away from the body |
| Clear | Use footwork that moves you off the bag and away from the runner | Standing on the bag and getting taken out by the slide |
| Throw | Transfer to a four seam grip and throw from a balanced base | Rushing the throw before the feet are set |
How do you get quicker hands for a faster transfer?
The fastest part of the turn to improve is the transfer, and that comes down to quick, strong hands. The sooner you can move the ball from glove to grip, the quicker the whole double play is, with no change to your arm or your footwork. That is why infielders drill barehand exchanges and train hand speed directly.
Weighted glove work is a simple way to build it. Doing transfer and exchange reps with light added weight on the hands trains your hands and forearms to move the ball quickly. Take the weight off and your hands feel faster, and the ball flies from glove to throwing hand before the runner can reach the bag.
S.W.A.G. Adjustable Weighted Gloves
Adjustable hand and finger weights that train the quick hands a fast transfer runs on. Do your exchange reps with them, then take them off and feel the ball move.
What drills speed up your double play?
Train the transfer, the footwork, and the feed as separate pieces, then put them together at game speed. Work these a few times a week.
Double play questions infielders ask
What is the most important part of turning a double play?
The transfer. Getting the ball from your glove to a throwing grip quickly saves more time than anything else, which is why fast hands matter so much on the turn.
How do I avoid getting taken out by the runner?
Use footwork that clears you off the bag and away from the slide before you throw. Never plant on top of the base and throw across your body into the runner.
Should I rush to throw faster?
No. Be quick, not hurried. Organized footwork and a fast transfer make the whole play faster without the rushed throws that sail or pull the first baseman off the bag.
Can weighted gloves help my transfer?
Yes. Training exchange reps with added weight builds hand and forearm speed, so the ball moves from glove to grip faster when the weight comes off.
Quicker hands, faster double plays
Train the transfer that wins the race to first, then turn two with time to spare.
Tags: Baseball, Double Play, Francisco Lindor, Middle Infield, Quick Hands, Weighted Gloves
