Baseball Shorts: Double Clutch

In this episode of “Baseball Shorts,” we pay attention to the term Double Clutch. What does it mean and where does it come from? Read on and you will learn.

The expression double clutch is used when a fielder, usually an infielder or a catcher, draws his arm back twice before throwing. It is said that in that case he does a “double clutch”. This hesitation often leads to a delayed or late throw, allowing runners to advance a base.  

You often see that a player starts to throw but then hesitates or stops the throwing motion before completing it, often due to a poor grip, indecision, or the need to adjust for a late-arriving base receiver

The term is borrowed from a method of shifting gears on an automotive vehicle, the old Fiat 500 for example, where this method was needed to shift gears.