By Abigail Gannaban · Last updated October 30, 2026
The toughest plays at third base aren't the rockets; they're the choppers and slow rollers, where a third baseman has to read the hop and decide in a split second to charge. This drill trains that read alone: throw hard down into a ball rebounder tilted forward so the ball comes back as a chopper or roller, attack it, field it and throw back into the net, timing each rep. A rebound net gives you a new tough hop every few seconds.
What is the third base tough hop drill?
It's daily, game-speed practice on choppers and slow rollers, timed with a stopwatch. Coach McCreary of Baseball by the Yard, in Common Third Base Mistakes on Coaches Insider, calls these the toughest plays at the position: you have to read the speed and hops of the ball, and the runner, and choose whether to charge hard or wait for a better hop. He argues most third basemen are too cautious, and recommends practicing a few of these plays every day at game speed, timing them, and trying to cut the time.
How do you run the drill alone on a ball rebounder?
Tilt the net forward so a hard downward throw comes back bouncing, start back at your fielding depth, and treat every return as a live ball. The table shows what's from the source.
| Setup item | Value | From |
|---|---|---|
| Ball rebounder | The Varsity Multi Sport Ball Rebounder, net tilted forward for choppers and rollers | Our adaptation |
| Starting depth | About 40 to 50 ft from the net | Our suggestion |
| Feed | Throw hard and downward into the lower half of the net; vary the force for choppers vs slow rollers | Our adaptation |
| The rep | Read the hop, attack, field, throw back into the net | McCreary (game-speed choppers and rollers) |
| Timing | Phone stopwatch on a short tripod: start at your release, stop when your throw hits the net | McCreary's stopwatch idea; solo timing method is ours |
| Volume | A few game-speed reps every day, 8 to 10 per session | McCreary ("a few every day"); count is our suggestion |
Mix the force of your feed so you don't know which hop is coming; that's what makes it a reaction drill.
What should a third baseman read and do on a tough hop?
Read the ball's speed and hop first, then commit. McCreary's point is that hesitation, or coming up short on the attack, is what gets the runner safe. On a slow roller, charge hard and plan to field it on the move. On a high chopper, attack to a spot where you'll meet it on the way down rather than waiting deep. Keep your eyes on the ball until it's in the glove, then let the throw come out of your momentum.
What does the net version train, and what needs a field?
The net version trains the read, the attack and the transition to the throw, with as many tough hops as you want. It can't give you a real bat-off-the-ball read, a runner, or a full throw across the diamond to first. Use the net for daily reads and attacks, then bring the timing to the field with a coach or teammate rolling balls and a first baseman to throw to. All Ball Pro makes steel-frame, multi-sport ball rebounders, also called rebound nets, in St. Louis, Missouri.
How do you track progress without a first baseman?
Track the same timed rep over weeks. Time your release-to-net rep from the same depth with the same feed, write down the best and average of each session, and compare week to week. It isn't the home-to-first time, but it measures the part of the play you control. For context, McCreary notes an average major leaguer gets from home to first in just over four seconds, which is why the attack matters.
FAQ
Why are slow rollers the hardest play at third base? The third baseman has to read the hop, the ball's speed and the runner, then decide instantly whether to charge or wait, and hesitating usually means the runner is safe.
How can a third baseman practice alone? Throw hard and downward into a ball rebounder tilted forward so returns come back as choppers and rollers, then attack and throw back into the net.
How often should third basemen practice choppers? Coach McCreary recommends a few game-speed reps every day, timed with a stopwatch.
Tough hops get easier when you've attacked hundreds of them, and a rebound net feeds you new ones all session. See The Varsity Multi Sport Ball Rebounder.