Ball Blocking
Also known as: blocking in the dirt, short-hop block
Ball blocking means dropping to the knees to smother a pitch in the dirt. It prevents wild pitches and passed balls that would let baserunners advance.
When a drop ball dives into the dirt or a changeup is thrown too low, the catcher must block rather than catch. They drop the knees to the ground and bring the glove to the dirt between the legs. The body becomes a wall that keeps the ball in front. A catcher who blocks well lets pitchers throw the drop ball and changeup to the zone's lower edge. They can do it without fear of runners advancing on passed balls. It is an essential skill for handling the pitch arsenal that makes fast-pitch pitchers effective.
Practice blocking drills where a coach rolls balls in the dirt toward you — focus on getting both knees down at the same time before the ball reaches the plate. This creates the wall before it's needed rather than after.
Develop a specific read trigger for each pitcher's drop ball and changeup release — when you see the release cue for those pitches, begin the knee drop immediately rather than waiting to confirm the trajectory is in the dirt.
Example
The pitcher bounces a drop ball in front of the plate with a runner on second. The catcher drops and blocks it in the dirt. This keeps the runner from advancing.
How it shows up on video
On video a successful block will show both knees at the same time hitting the dirt with the glove dropping between the legs before the ball arrives — not after. The body should form a wall that angles the ball downward to stay in front rather than deflecting it sideways. A failed block is visible as the knees arriving after the ball. This causes it to pass under the glove, or the glove reaching instead of dropping. This allows the ball to pass underneath.
Common mistakes
- Trying to catch a ball in the dirt rather than blocking it. This allows it to skip off the heel of the glove and past the catcher
- Dropping the knees after the ball arrives rather than anticipating the need to block based on the pitch type and the catcher's read of the trajectory
- Blocking the ball but deflecting it sideways rather than into a controllable zone in front of the plate, allowing a baserunner to advance
- Standing up before confirming the ball is fully controlled and the runner is not advancing, allowing a secondary advance on a loose ball
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab has no blocking motion and does not see the ball's bounce, so it cannot time your knee drop against it.
Frequently asked questions
Why should catchers block the ball rather than try to catch it?
Because catching a ball in the dirt requires a perfect glove angle that is nearly impossible at game speed — blocking with the body is more reliable and keeps the ball in front regardless of the exact bounce angle.
Does good blocking help pitchers throw more effectively?
Yes. A catcher who blocks well gives the pitcher confidence to throw drop balls and low changeups to the zone's edge, expanding their effective pitch arsenal compared to a catcher who can only handle pitches in the air.
Related terms
- Ball ReceivingBall receiving is catching pitches cleanly and quietly. It shows each pitch to the umpire in a way that helps strike calls and sets up a quick throw.
- Drop BallIn fast-pitch, a drop ball is a pitch thrown with topspin that makes it dive sharply near the plate. It induces grounders and swings over the top of the ball.
- Catcher's RoleThe fast-pitch catcher does far more than catch pitches. They call pitches, manage the pitcher's mindset, control the running game, and organize the defense.
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