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The Auburn softball team employs a defensive hop before every pitch for the infielders and they believe this is one of the reason they have a strong defensive squad. Interesting enough, Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has been known to do this same type of hop. You can check out the video below.
Jul 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
WATCH | Find out the story behind the defensive hop and the science that proves why it works #WarEagle
Posted by Auburn Softball on Wednesday, March 2, 2016
5 comments
I’m the women’s tennis coach at Brown so for me the idea is quite obvious. The Auburn players are doing what we call a split-step. There is also a float-step (land on one foot rather than both) which would be more beneficial as the infielders are often stepping across after the hop. The float-step is better for fielding ground balls and much quicker and efficient and puts them in a better throwing position after the catch. Nice to see baseball/softball evolving.
Wouldn’t the split-step make more sense for an infielder? It allows for the ability to react either left or right. I would think that the float-step would limit the ability to go to the opposite side of the first landed step? Maybe I am not quite understanding the float step.
Infielder is in the air when the ball is hit – land on the non-ball-side foot and push. Allows you to move to left or right (also forward and backward), much quicker than landing on both feet and stepping across and allows you to stay on balance (head stays centered). Split step is basic, float more advanced. There’s also the gravity step but that’s a story for another day. All three steps (split, float, gravity) are situational/contextual and natural. Easy to learn and effective/efficient.
Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation. It would take some time with 14 year olds to get the timing down.
Easier than you think. Good ones will pick it up quickly. Makes the players “really” watch the ball making contact with the bat. Enjoy.
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