Charging a Ground Ball
Also known as: charging the ball, attacking a slow roller
Charging a ground ball means running at a slowly hit ball instead of waiting. It shortens the throw and keeps a bunt or slow roller from becoming a hit.
On a hard-hit ground ball, an infielder's job is largely to react and get in front of it. On a slowly hit ball or a bunt, waiting for the ball to arrive gives the batter-runner too much time to reach base safely. Charging attacks the ball instead, closing the distance quickly so the throw to first is shorter. The fielder can also release from a lower, more athletic position rather than bending down from a standstill.
The technique requires reading speed and trajectory almost immediately off the bat. Charging a ball that turns out to be hit harder than expected can leave a fielder out of position. It can also mean fielding a bad hop while moving forward at full speed. The margin on a charged ball is so tight that the fielder often skips the complete stop before throwing. Instead, fielding and throwing are combined into one continuous movement, such as a barehand pickup and throw or a quick glove scoop and transfer.
Example
Reading the bunt immediately, the third baseman charged hard, barehanded the ball on the run, and threw across his body to get the out at first by a step.
Why it matters
Charging decisively, or correctly deciding not to, is one of the fastest reads to train on video. Hesitation on a slow roller usually shows up as a delayed first step rather than a lack of raw speed.
How it shows up on video
On video, a well-charged ball shows the fielder's first step coming almost immediately off contact. This moves in a direct line to the ball rather than drifting. A poorly read charge shows a fielder standing upright and reacting late, then being forced into an off-balance, rushed pickup.
Common mistakes
- Hesitating before deciding to charge, turning a routine bunt or slow roller into a close play or a hit
- Charging too aggressively on a ball that turns out to be hit harder than expected, resulting in a bad hop taken at full speed
- Failing to lower the body and get the glove down early enough while still moving forward, leading to the ball skipping under the glove
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not see the batter or the ball, so it cannot time your reaction from contact. It reads your footwork and body position from pose as you charge and throw.
Frequently asked questions
When should an infielder not charge a slow roller?
When the ball is hit hard enough that there is real doubt about its speed, or when charging would take the fielder out of position for a more likely secondary play — reading it wrong in either direction has a real cost.
Related terms
- First StepFirst step is how quickly a fielder starts movement toward a batted ball — often the largest separator between good and great defenders.
- Backhand FieldFielding a ground ball backhand means turning the back of the glove hand toward the ball. The fielder reaches across the body instead of squaring up.
- Reading a HopReading a hop is judging early where a ground ball's bounce will arrive. The fielder can then set footwork and glove angle before the ball gets there, not after.
- Fielding FootworkFielding footwork is how a player positions and moves their feet to field a ball cleanly. Good footwork also sets up a strong, accurate throw right away.
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