The Short Answer: Softball fielding drills help players build strong defensive fundamentals, sharpen reaction time, and develop confidence during real-game situations. With structured repetition, athletes can master glove work, footwork, and timing across all levels of play.
Fielding is one of the most important aspects of playing competitive softball. Whether you're a youth softball player learning the ropes or an experienced athlete fine-tuning your movements, fielding drills should be a consistent part of your practice plans. These drills build muscle memory, develop quick footwork, and reinforce the right fielding position for different game situations. Great fielders don’t just react – they prepare. With the right practice, softball players can become faster, cleaner, and more reliable on defense.
This guide breaks down a series of practical, high-rep drills for infielders, focusing on glove work, body control, and conditioning. These routines apply to all levels of fastpitch softball and can easily be added to team practices or solo training sessions.
Why Fielding Drills Matter
Every play starts with proper mechanics. Whether you’re fielding a ground ball at third base, throwing a runner out at home plate, or charging a bunt, you need quick reactions and dependable technique. Softball fielding drills allow you to repeat movements in game-like conditions until they become automatic.
In addition to improving your glove work, drills develop fielding technique, footwork, and control. Staying low through the ball, keeping your glove open, and finishing with your shoulders squared toward your target become habits. When you need to make a split-second decision in a game situation, your body knows what to do.
5 Softball Fielding Drills
Drill Series 1: Ladder and Short Hop Reactions
This drill series is ideal for training short hops, glove-side picks, and backhand plays. It also helps improve agility and timing.
Setup:
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Use a speed ladder or draw a grid on the field.
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Have a partner with a bucket of balls ready for tosses.
Sequence:
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Start in front of the ladder.
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For right-handed players: step in using right-left footwork.
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Exit the ladder to your backhand side (right-left), then field a short hop.
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Toss the ball back, then re-enter from the same starting spot.
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Work glove side (right-left again), fielding a short hop once your front foot plants.
Focus Points:
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Keep your glove flipped early for backhands.
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On glove-side picks, keep fingertips down and glove open.
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Stay in rhythm and don’t rush. This is a fielding drill, not a race.
Use this sequence for 4–6 reps per side. These fielding drills are great for developing confidence when picking tough hops, especially on fast fields.
Drill Series 2: Shuffle + Short Hop Picks
This is another softball drill for building fielding skills through controlled movement and quick transfers.
Equipment:
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Tennis ball or softball
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A partner for front toss
Drill Steps:
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Begin facing your partner with your glove ready.
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Shuffle left, field a glove-side short hop, toss back.
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Reset in the middle.
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Shuffle right, field a backhand short hop, toss back.
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Reset and move forward for a straight-on toss. Pick up and work through the ball.
Key Takeaways:
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Use proper footwork on each side (right-left for glove side).
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Your glove should be under the ball with fingers down.
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Keep the upper leg engaged and transfer quickly.
Repeat this cycle 4–6 times per direction. For youth softball players, start slow until your technique is consistent.
Drill Series 3: Reaction Drill with Verbal Cues
This is a great conditioning and fielding drill that sharpens reactions in game-like chaos.
How it works:
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Have a partner call out "glove side," "backhand," or "straight on."
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You begin with active footwork and respond to the cue.
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Field the appropriate short hop and toss it back.
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Repeat in sequence without long rest periods.
This simulates what a softball player experiences in a real game: unexpected direction, quick movements, and pressure to react. It also helps softball coaches train younger players to be ready for any ball that comes their way.
Drill Series 4: Cone-to-Cone Fielding Circuit
One of the most complete softball fielding drills involves multiple reps moving from cone to cone while fielding various types of ground balls and picks.
Setup:
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Place 5 cones in a line with space between each.
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A partner stands across from the cones.
Part 1: Ground Balls - Straight In
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Start behind Cone 1.
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Partner rolls ball between Cones 1 and 2.
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Field the ball, come into throwing position, toss, backpedal to the next cone.
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Repeat for 4 ground balls.
Part 2: Ground Balls - Backhand
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Move from right to left.
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Field a backhand ball at each gap.
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Emphasize glove work and upper body control.
Part 3: Picks on the Run
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Partner tosses a ball waist-high just before each cone.
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Pick the ball while on the move, glove outside front foot.
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Toss quickly and continue moving.
Part 4: Backhand Picks
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Same sequence, now using backhand pick technique.
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Stay low and let your feet carry you through.
This softball drill provides both a fielding and conditioning benefit. It helps you get reps while training your body to stay under control when tired.
Drill Series 5: Straight-Line Lateral Work
This series condenses the same skills as the cone drill into a straight-line format that focuses on lateral movement.
What to do:
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Start at one end of a horizontal line.
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Partner rolls a ground ball straight in. Field and toss.
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Step left, repeat.
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Continue for 5 total reps.
Then:
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Repeat with backhand ground balls.
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Then move into glove-side picks and backhand picks using underhand tosses.
This drill builds muscle memory for footwork and transitions. The repeated step-toss-step rhythm simulates what infielders do in long innings. For more drills like these, MegRem Softball provides detailed instruction on how to better yourself in all aspects of the game.
Fielding Tips and Fundamentals
Fielding Technique
Across all drills, make sure your technique supports clean execution. Here are the consistent basics:
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Glove Position: Fingers down, open to the ball.
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Footwork: Right-left timing for right-handed players (left-right for lefties).
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Body Posture: Stay low with hips hinged, not hunched.
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Transfers: Quick, controlled tosses back to your partner help mimic real throws.
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Head Position: Keep eyes level and focused on the ball.
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Hands: Don’t snatch. Let the ball come to you.
These tips apply regardless of age or level, from high school to youth softball. They also carry over to game-time fielding when adrenaline and pressure make clean execution harder.
Tips for Building Better Practice Plans
Consistency matters more than complexity. You don’t need fancy tools to build a great softball fielding practice. Instead, focus on:
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Repeating quality reps with proper technique
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Progressing from slow to full speed
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Using softball drills with conditioning built in
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Integrating game situation cues for more realism
Rotate between tee work, hitting drills, and fielding circuits to keep practice balanced. Younger players in youth softball benefit from short, high-energy sessions that keep their focus sharp. High school and advanced teams can build endurance and complexity with more reps.
Fielding With BRUCE BOLT
At BRUCE BOLT, we build performance gear that helps softball players field better, faster, and more confidently. Whether you're scooping a tough ground ball, making a play on a bunt, or tracking a pop up, what you wear matters.
Arm Sleeves
Our softball arm sleeves provide medical-grade graduated compression that increases circulation and reduces muscle vibration. That means you get more power during drills and games, and better recovery afterward.
Wristbands
Sweat can get in the way of a clean glove transfer or a steady grip. BRUCE BOLT wristbands keep your arms dry, so you stay locked in from the first rep to the last out.
No matter your position or level, the right gear supports every fielding drill, practice plan, and game situation. Train harder, recover smarter, and play with confidence—every time you step on the field.
