How to Eliminate Bad Hops!

[@zebman9228]

This is great in theory for balls not hit too hard. But really hot grounders are almost a blur, so you are fielding a blur. Not much time to decide which hop it is going to give you. Also the longer hop can at times turn into a low diver because it takes a couple of hops for the top spin to get traction. It is all good advice though, and moving your feet is always going to make your job easier for everything in baseball.

[@shoesfan64]

As a second baseman, did you ever get taken out by baserunners and if so what was your reaction?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

All the time! It was part of the game so didn't mind.

[@tannermartin3103]

Great video. Counting the hops is a great way for kids to know when to press forward or just instill some timing to something I’ve always had a hard time explaining.

[@EmersonFitts]

Hey Matt, what is your favorite baseball team and did you want to be drafted by them?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

It was the Red Sox growing up. And I strangely didn't really care. Just wanted to get drafted. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@zink9573]

Oh my gosh I take so many bad hops and mess up a ton and this helps so much thanks dude

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Good luck to you and no problem!!!

[@elijahward3920]

Great video, as an outfielder and infielder, this is very helpful

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks! Good luck! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@deanf48]

I think you should actually show these tips in action. I appreciate the explanations, that are insightful. The visuals would just put everything you discussed into perspective.

[@MrGameMeister]

I was glad to see you mention "counting the hops" - this is something that I consider to be extremely important, but is often overlooked by the typical "infield how to field" videos. With experience, I have noticed that the ball's bounce will behave differently depending on which bounce I am on. I play both baseball and softball, and speaking from a softball perspective, if i wait until after the third bounce, the heavier softball tends to become a lot more flat after the third bounce, thus it has a greater chance to bounce under your glove if you are counting on a consistent bounce as it did on the first or second hop - this means I really need to get to the ball on the first or second bounce if it's sharply hit for a more clean catch. Have you noticed the same result with baseballs? I believe that the lighter weight of baseballs allow the hops to be a little more extended (won't become flat until later), but after the fourth or fifth hop (depending on topspin) the ball's path will flatten and you have to be careful to keep your glove lower to the ground so you don't it doesn't go under. This is a finer point I have yet to see anyone with a high level of experience and is doing videos pick up on. Thx :)

[@timsiedem9030]

Excellent Matt thank you

[@yael201191]

really helpful video, great stuff man, keep it up!! greetings from Dominican Republic!!

[@ExposClassics94]

Thank you very much for this video! I'm gonna have to take some grounders soon

[@elijahward3920]

Expos Classics Nice profile photo and username

[@AntonelliBaseball]

No problem and good luck!!!

[@157dodgers]

Awesome tip! Especially the drill where you catch it on a certain hop 👌👌

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@Mitten4371]

Yea I was always taught that you have to read that hop I mean hops are easier said than done because if it's a slow hop then your taught to charge it. See if your a firstbase man your always having to work with your pitcher and second baseman. Because if it's a slow hop well then someone has to cover firstbase and there are things that a firstbase man has to do. Like feeding the ball to the pitcher or keeping the runner close to the bag if he is holding him on. Then there is a reason why they call third base and firstbase the hot corner because the ball can get to them very quickly on a line drive

[@bobbyjenkins90]

This will help me very much with my try outs. Thanks love the channel

[@donnelloliver8746]

I was having a problem with my son and the in between hop, this helped tremendously

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Great!!! Good luck to him!

[@mjkim1847]

Thanks Matt! I took a ball to the eye a couple years ago. Now if it ever happens again, I know what to do.

[@imdabestevaaa]

Can you make a video on coaching tips and such? Like how you got to coach at a college level, and what's a few of the most important things to look for and teach as a coach. Just a video or 2 focusing on coaching things ... I want to coach high school ball so I would love some help

[@jahshuajones6647]

In the MLB do you have access to the field,cages, whenever you want?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Not whenever, but pretty close

[@bounderby99]

Thanks for this video I had a game yesterday, and it really helped me!

[@KyleMakeStuff]

This will help me at third! Thank you!

[@godalwayswins4464]

nice work Matt appreciate all your efforts.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!!

[@mattievans6023]

man i'm already a pretty good fielder and would've made the middle school team if i could hit good but this will help me a whole lot next try out. thanks man

[@xxminedeployxx2432]

Matti Evans same I'm a nasty infielder just can't hit to save my life

[@dr.heinzdoofenshmirtz1172]

Matti Evans You will hit better man. It doesn't come over night just hit the cage hard. any chance you get at BP take it. Just don't give up

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Awesome good luck!!!

[@xxminedeployxx2432]

Antonelli Baseball I have a 100% fielding the whole 16 gAmes but my batting I'd Is 2-48 with 1 ground out and 1 flyout and the rest is strike outs

[@maleikpowell7173]

XxMineDeployXx then your 0 for 48 bro

[@jacobrandy4909]

So I choose what hop I need to get on that play like I’m confused on if I need to get the short hop or the long if you recommend should I get the hop i am more comfortable with

[@tidepods3372]

Thanks Matt this is going to help me so much!!

[@AntonelliBaseball]

No prob and good luck!!!

[@onabaseballbasis5910]

Hey matt, thanks for doing this! This is incredibly helpful! Can you make another video on how to eliminate bad throws?

[@avgrphx]

Great lesson, works for softball too!!

[@atenderbunny]

Are there any drills you can do to improve your foot speed?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I can try to make a video for you

[@grege5074]

*drills* ladder drills low impact plyometrics *in game* move your feet early (i.e. while the pitcher is winding up) stay on the balls of your feet (lean forward) if you're an outfielder, make sure your first step is back never take just 1 step when you start, take 2, 3, 4 etc steps...never just one.

[@David-fr4mb]

I wanna see one of your teams in a tournament so bad..

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Who do you play for?

[@David-fr4mb]

Tri state arsenal

[@bobbyjenkins90]

Matt I'm a huge fan, and could you make a video of what you guys did on the plane our bus on the road really love the channel

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I have a few of those up already. Go back and see if you can find them in our question and answer playlist. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@bobbyjenkins90]

thx man I will try to find it thanks for replying this made my day

[@FA-tz9oc]

Great insight thx!

[@malcolmmiddle2029]

I think this will help tremendously! thanks

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Awesome! Good luck!

[@naeemcarr1946]

Matt did you play at Miller Park before

[@rubenzamora3326]

Awesome, thank you

[@rebeccamarquez4656]

Thank You!

[@DannyPacheco-j6f]

Yes those in between hops are very difficult to catch especially if the ball is hit hard

[@meowfaceproductions4822]

Great video!

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Leftystumbler2011]

Matt - another great vid! I think I've watched them all : ) You mentioned 'getting on the right side of the ball every time"... so I assume that you mean for infielders to almost never field the ball straight on and always try to get to the right side for fielding... for better angle, quick release? Obviously most coaches (little league) say to get 'in front' of the ball... can you clarify this on exactly what you mean? Thanks Matt!

[@David-fr4mb]

I live in south jersey, what are the best showcases or training events I can attend?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Hmmm there are so many of them it's hard to really say.

[@pavanatanaya]

Those old pitch back rebound trainers are great for footwork reps

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Yup I have one of those I agree! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@miguelromano6631]

I made a fielding error today and caused my team to lose cause of a "bad hop".... I will definitely use this information...

[@flaviotirado6254]

Hey Antonelli, I would like to watch a video about "how to field hard ground outs"

[@hacimssahan8137]

Thank you very helpful 🔥⚾️🔥

[@AntonelliBaseball]

No prob good luck!!

[@toxicthomas4986]

What about counting the number of bounces. Wanting 2 to 3 bounces

[@dr.heinzdoofenshmirtz1172]

In little league or travel ball did you ever play at berliner park in Columbus Ohio? im just curious

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I don't believe I have.

[@shailichtenfeld9107]

Thanks for making this video on turf cause then you really get bad hops

[@AntonelliBaseball]

You can get in-between hops on any field

[@Koudey]

Thank you so much for these videos, Matt. They will help me spiffy things up at third base. Go Red Sox!

[@kevinhiemenz9877]

I wish you were around when I was playing

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!!

[@michaelj5463]

Kevin Hiemenz I was thinking the same thing.

[@jmgmarcus808]

Did you ever take part in a brawl? If so, how much fun was it?

[@christianfarrace5230]

Playing on turf definitely helps

[@AntonelliBaseball]

For sure!

[@rckark9724]

love the video your da best

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@kmcd1000]

As my father always said. "Charge the ball"

[@rslwannabe9475]

As a wise man once said. ''Charge The Ball.''

[@josepradojr.6471]

this helps but can u do a in real game visual please

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Sure if you go to our infield playlist we have a ton of videos on it. Thanks!

[@jordonburns3509]

You know anything about 1st base

[@IAmJoeJericho]

Who was your favorite MLB infielder while you were in the majors and while as a kid?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Probably Nomar! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@LuisGarcia-pr9yb]

This remind me a drill with my soccer coach, he yelled at me the ball must bounce once, I said no way I can't get to the ball on the first bounce, so i tryed to hit the ball on the second bounce once the ball hit the ground for the second time the ball move to my left leg due to spinning so I missed the ball all my teammates laugh. And my coach was barking from the midfield I told you on the first bounce!!!!!!

[@toxicdrxppz548]

i got a black eye last week from a in between hop 😔

[@jacksonkiser5613]

The only problem is, on my field, they have never rolled in since 2009. So it is basically impossible to judge where the ball is going, that’s my issue

[@dwaynejohnson3757]

💪🏽💪🏽✊🏾

[@Mxtbt]

Sounds good until the ball ends up going from a long hop to many short hops and back in a long hop right before you get it

[@moojest5337]

When you were little, were you ever afraid of the ball as an infielder, and if so how did you overcome it?

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I don't really remember. I don't think I was. If you are, I think work on slowly hit balls or even rolled balls and work your way up to faster ones. Good luck!

[@moojest5337]

Thanks! I have been trying to do that and I hope it helps me. I am 12 and I think I would be a great infielder if I wasn't afraid of the ball. Your tips in the video help a lot to. Thanks!

[@Jenna-mr3us]

Moojestllama For me, I wasn't scared of the ball I was scared of failing. There was a girl who had just started and she was already the coaches favorite because she did a ton of private lessons. Eventually, I just stopped caring and decided to start over with a better season. I wish you luck

[@jonathancopfer6172]

"How to eliminate bad hops" on a turf field.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Haha can still get in between hops

[@MLBProspectPortal]

Great video!

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thank!!!