How to Play Softball: Framing Drills

This drill is the framing drill for catchers. The purpose of this drill is to basically bite strikes. You want to be as motionless as possible as the catcher behind the plate and as you receive the ball, you tend to twist the ball towards the strike zone, as you extend across the plate for an outside pitch. If it's outside you twist it in to that outer edge. Or the ball that is for a right-handed hitter on the inside. You twist it to the inside part of the plate.

You want to present a motionless target back there, a small target. As you catch and as you frame the pitched it's not a big huge exaggerated motion. It's a little twist of the wrist. So every pitch looks like a strike. Repetitions on this, you want to do it 25 to 50 times. In addition to your repetitions you'll be catching pitchers everyday during drills. When pitchers are simulating innings pitch and what not, that's another great time to practice your framing mechanics. And just like throwing you catch and throw every day. There is no excuse at all to not have perfect or near perfect mechanics when throwing and catching the ball.

Another variation to this drill is whether it's a parent, a friend; they can just stand short and toss the balls in to as a catcher, so that you can practice these framing mechanics. One thing that's good about these shorter tosses is the ball is more in control, it's easier for your catcher to work on the actual wrist turn because the ball is easier to trap.


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