Relay Throw
Also known as: relay, outfield relay
A relay throw is an outfield ball delivered to an infielder who has run out to meet it and immediately sends it on. This means used when one arm cannot cover the distance with both speed and accuracy.
On extra-base hits to the fence, a single delivery from the warning track to the plate usually either dies short or skips wildly. The middle infielder sprints to an intermediate point, sets, receives, and fires in one motion. Two skills decide whether it works. This means the outfielder's ability to find that fielder on the fly rather than on a bounce. The fielder's ability to turn and release without an extra shuffle.
Field dimensions make this more worthwhile in slow-pitch than players expect. Adult fences commonly sit between about 275 and 315 feet. This is short enough that a well-placed two-leg sequence arrives at the plate with real velocity behind it. Teams that skip it and let the outfielder heave the ball are giving away outs the field was offering them.
Keep your glove raised as a target and shout your position. This means the outfielder has just chased a ball to the fence and needs to find you fast.
Perfect the exchange: receive on your throwing-arm side, spin inside toward your glove side to square up, and release in one continuous motion.
Example
A ball rolls to the center-field fence; the shortstop sprints out, takes it in stride, and fires home to nail the runner trying to score.
Why it matters
Those shorter fence distances mean the two-leg option is genuinely live rather than theoretical. The teams that rehearse it convert plays that other teams treat as automatic runs.
How it shows up on video
Watch the receiving fielder's footwork — taking the ball on the throwing-arm side, spinning inside, and releasing without an extra step. A good delivery arrives shoulder-high and goes on to the target on a straight line.
Common mistakes
- The outfielder delivering it too high, so the receiving fielder waits for the ball to come down
- Not lining up between the outfielder and the target base, which creates an angled second leg
- Failing to redirect something poorly aimed — the fielder in the middle is an active funnel, not a stationary target
- Taking extra shuffle steps after the catch instead of receiving and releasing in one motion
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage can analyse outfield throwing mechanics from video, identifying arm path and release-point issues that cost accuracy and carry distance.
Frequently asked questions
Is this needed on every ball to the fence?
Not always. On shorter recreational fields a strong arm reaches third on the fly. But anything aimed at the plate is worth splitting. This means the extra 60-odd feet is where accuracy collapses.
Does the extra outfielder change who runs out?
Yes. With a rover in the gaps the ball is often retrieved by whichever of the two nearest outfielders gets there first. As a result, the infielder has to read who ended up with it rather than assuming a fixed pairing.
Related terms
- Cutoff PlayA cutoff play routes an outfield throw through an infielder positioned between the fielder and home, letting the defence redirect the ball or add accuracy over a distance one arm cannot cover.
- Outfield DepthOutfield depth is how far outfielders play from home plate. Slow-pitch leagues often allow four outfielders; depth is adjusted based on the hitter's power, the score, and the number of outs.
- Defensive PositioningDefensive positioning is the pre-pitch alignment of all fielders based on the current hitter's tendencies, the game situation, the count, and the score.
Related guides & benchmarks
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