How to Steal More Bases: The Vault Steal Technique Explained
If you want to steal more bases, you need to understand one thing: it’s not just about speed. It’s about timing, technique, and knowing your opponent.
I’m here with Jemile Weeks – former MLB player and the New York Mets’ base running coordinator last season. He’s been diving deep into the art of base stealing, and he’s got something really cool called The Vault that he’s using to help players take more bags.
In this post, Jemile breaks down:
Watch the full video above, then use this post as your reference guide.
The Math Behind Stealing Bases
Before we get into technique, you need to understand the numbers. Base stealing is a math problem – and if you know the math, you know whether you can take the bag.
The Three Times You Need to Know
|
Time |
What It Measures |
|---|---|
|
Pitcher’s Time |
From the pitcher’s first movement to the ball hitting the catcher’s glove |
|
Catcher’s Time |
From the catcher catching the ball to the ball hitting the second baseman’s glove |
|
Runner’s Steal Time |
From the runner’s first movement to touching second base |
The Battery Time
Battery Time = Pitcher’s Time + Catcher’s Time
Battery Time = Pitcher’s Time + Catcher’s Time
Major League average battery time is around 3.25 seconds.
The Rule:
If your steal time is faster than the battery time, you can steal the bag just about every time.
Example:
If you’re a speed guy with a steal time of 1.3 seconds or above (meaning faster than 3.25), you have the ability to take that bag as long as the battery time is average.
But here’s the thing: Not every pitcher is average. That’s where intel comes in.
Reading Pitchers: The “Tip”
Every professional team has someone analyzing pitchers. They’re looking for tips – tendencies that give away when the pitcher is going home.
What They Look For:
Common Tip: “Bill Dip and Bill Raise”
When a pitcher’s head goes down and then up before going to the plate, that’s a tip. If you see a “bill dip,” as soon as he starts to raise his head, you’re taking off before his leg even lifts.
The higher you get, the more intel you have on pitchers. The more tendencies you know, the better your timing will be.
Direct Steal vs. The Vault Steal
Now let’s talk about the two techniques.
Direct Steal
The direct steal is your traditional stolen base. You’re getting a normal lead (11-13 feet) and going.
Best For:
Key Elements:
The Vault Steal
This is Jemile’s specialty – a technique designed for average base runners or when the pitcher is unusually quick to the plate.
When to Use It:
The Setup:
The Sequence: “Right, Left, Turn”
- Right step – leads first
- Left step – follows
- Turn – you’re now at your regular lead position
- Grace and land – as your right foot lands, you’re watching the pitcher
The Key Moment:
As your right foot lands, you’re watching the pitcher’s foot. If it begins to lift, you carry that momentum straight into a steal – you don’t stop.
The vault gives you momentum into your steal. It gives an average base stealer just about the same takeoff as a speed guy.
Why It Works:
The vault is effective because you’re not actually leaving your normal lead distance. You start shorter, but the right-left-turn sequence gets you to your regular lead position with momentum already built.
The Vault vs. Direct Steal: Key Differences
|
Element |
Direct Steal |
The Vault |
|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
11-13 feet |
About 6 feet |
|
Best For |
Speed guys |
Average runners, quick pitchers |
|
First Movement |
Left leg drive |
Right foot leads |
|
Footwork |
Jab step |
Right, left, turn |
|
Momentum |
Built from drive |
Built from vault |
|
When to Use |
Battery time is average+ |
Battery time is fast, or you’re average |
How to Know Which Steal to Use
Ask yourself these questions:
- What’s my steal time? (If you don’t know, get timed.)
- What’s the pitcher’s time to the plate? (If you don’t know, find out.)
- What’s the catcher’s pop time? (If you don’t know, find out.)
- What’s the battery time? (Add pitcher + catcher times.)
If your steal time is faster than the battery time: Direct steal.
If your steal time is slower than the battery time: The Vault.
If the pitcher is 1.1 or 1.2 to the plate: The Vault.
The Importance of Intel
The higher you get in baseball, the more intel you have on pitchers. Every team is analyzing tendencies. Every team is looking for tips.
Your job as a base stealer:
The more tendencies you have, the better you’re going to be at timing when you land on that vault jump.
Quick Summary – How to Steal More Bases
1. Know the Math
2. Read the Pitcher
3. Choose Your Technique
4. Master the Footwork
5. Have the Intent
Follow Jemile Weeks
If you want to learn more from Jemile, you can find him at:
Hit him up on Instagram – he’s there to help.
Final Thoughts
Stealing bases isn’t just about being fast. It’s about being smart.
Know the math. Read the pitcher. Choose the right technique. Master the footwork. And have the intent to go.
Whether you’re a speed guy using the direct steal or an average runner using The Vault, the principles are the same: timing, technique, and knowledge.
Put those together, and you’ll steal more bases.
Thanks for reading! If this helped you, drop a comment below or share it with a player who needs to improve their base running.
See you in the next one.
– Coach Madden
