Double Play Turn (Slow-Pitch)
Also known as: turning two, DP turn
The double play turn is the pivot footwork a middle infielder uses at second base to receive a throw, touch the bag, and release a throw to first in one continuous motion while avoiding contact with the sliding runner.
Because slow-pitch bat speeds and contact quality can still produce hard, well-timed ground balls, a clean double-play turn remains a genuine defensive weapon even at the recreational level. The pivot fielder has several footwork options depending on the throw's direction and the runner's slide — dragging the foot across the bag on an inside throw, stepping across on an outside throw, or a jump pivot when the throw pulls the fielder off the base entirely. In every version, the priority order is: secure the catch, touch the base, get out of the runner's path, then release an accurate throw.
Because slow-pitch leagues vary widely in slide-rule enforcement (some enforce strict "runner must slide to break up the play legally" rules, others are looser recreational environments), infielders should know their specific league's contact rules before attempting an aggressive turn near a hard-sliding runner.
Drill all three pivot footwork variations (drag, cross-over, jump) separately so the correct one becomes an instant, unconscious read based on where the throw actually arrives rather than a single default move used for every throw.
Example
On a ground ball to short with a runner on first, the second baseman receives the throw, drags her foot across the inside corner of the bag, hops to clear the sliding runner, and fires to first to complete the double play.
Why it matters
A clean double-play turn erases a baserunner and an out in a single sequence, one of the highest-value team-defense plays available. SwingVantage can review turn footage for footwork timing and throwing-lane clearance.
How it shows up on video
Check the order of events at the bag: catch, foot contact with the base, and clearance from the runner's slide lane should all happen before the throwing arm begins its release. A turn that rushes the throw before clearing the runner risks both a wild throw and a collision.
Common mistakes
- Rushing the throw before fully clearing the runner's slide path, risking both an inaccurate throw and unnecessary contact
- Using the same pivot footwork regardless of the throw's direction, rather than adjusting technique to how the ball actually arrives
- Failing to secure the catch before touching the bag, resulting in a dropped ball that voids the force out entirely
- Not knowing the league's specific slide and contact rules, leading to a hesitant or overly cautious turn against an aggressive slide
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage can break down double-play turn footage frame by frame to check the sequencing of catch, base touch, and throw release relative to the sliding runner's arrival.
Related terms
- Force PlayA force play is an out recorded by a fielder simply touching the base ahead of a runner who is required to advance, with no tag needed, because the batter-runner or a trailing runner has no choice but to run to that base.
- Middle Infield CommunicationMiddle infield communication is the ongoing verbal and non-verbal coordination between the shortstop and second baseman — covering who takes cutoffs, who covers the bag on steals, and who has priority on shallow pop-ups — needed to avoid collisions and missed assignments.
- Glove-Side BackhandA glove-side backhand is fielding a ground ball hit to the fielder's glove-hand side by reaching across the body with the glove turned outward, rather than shuffling the feet to field it squarely.
- Relay ThrowA relay throw is a ball thrown from an outfielder to a cutoff man who immediately re-throws it to a base — used when the distance is too great for one throw to be accurate and powerful.
Related guides & benchmarks
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