Double Play Pivot
Also known as: DP pivot, pivot footwork
The double play pivot is a middle infielder's footwork at second base to catch a throw and fire it to first. It must be quick and avoid the sliding runner.
There is no single pivot; middle infielders use several depending on the throw they receive and the runner's position. In a drag pivot, the fielder tags the bag with the foot closest to the throw while already moving toward first. It is ideal for a throw that arrives slightly ahead of the runner. In a jump pivot, the fielder catches the ball in the air over the bag and lands already facing first base. It is useful when the throw or the runner forces a fielder off the bag entirely. A rounding pivot approaches the bag from the outfield side of second. The fielder catches and steps across in one motion when time allows a fuller turn.
Every pivot variation shares the same priorities. Touch the bag legally, get the ball out of the glove as fast as possible, and get the body clear of the sliding runner's path. Fielders usually clear the path by staying up and back, or with a bag angle that keeps the body out of the base path entirely. Rushing the transfer before securing the catch is the most common way a clean pivot goes wrong. The result is a dropped ball or an errant relay to first.
Example
The second baseman used a jump pivot on the high throw, catching it above the bag and landing already turned toward first for a clean relay to complete the double play.
Why it matters
Pivot footwork is one of the most drilled middle-infield skills, and one of the easiest to check on camera. Small footwork errors that look fine at game speed often show up clearly in a slowed-down replay.
How it shows up on video
On video, a clean pivot shows the fielder's body already turning toward first base as the ball arrives, with the glove-to-hand transfer happening in one fluid motion rather than a separate catch-then-transfer sequence. A rushed pivot often shows the fielder's eyes leaving the ball early or the transfer beginning before the catch is fully secured.
Common mistakes
- Looking toward first base before fully securing the catch, causing dropped throws on routine feeds
- Standing directly in the runner's base path during the pivot rather than using an angle that keeps the body clear of contact
- Rushing the transfer so much that accuracy on the relay throw suffers, turning a potential double play into just one out
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab reads your footwork and body turn from pose through a transfer. It does not see the ball or the bag, so it cannot time your pivot or tell whether you cut the catch short.
Frequently asked questions
Which pivot is fastest?
The drag pivot is generally the quickest since the fielder never fully stops moving toward first. But it requires a throw that arrives close to the bag and roughly on time with the runner.
Related terms
- Turn Two"Turn two" is slang for completing a double play, two outs on one batted ball. Most often, a grounder is fed to a middle infielder who pivots and relays to first.
- Ball TransferBall transfer is the exchange of the ball from glove to throwing hand. Its speed and consistency are among the biggest separators for infielders and catchers.
- 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.
- Arm Slot (Fielding)A fielder's arm slot is the arm angle at release when throwing. The natural slot produces the most accurate and arm-safe throw for that player's anatomy.
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