How to Layout Homeplate
By MC
Preparing to build a field starts with homeplate. The entire ballpark is determined by where the back tip of homeplate is located. Field orientation is always discussed as an issue and what MLB recommends is a direction of North-Northeast which works fine for ballparks North of Florida. Fields closer the equator may select a south southeast orientation. The MLB rulebook recommendation is defined more simply …While standing at homeplate look due north with a compass an this should the 3rd baseline of your field.
Unfortunately I have seen some pretty rough homeplates over the years but over all conditions have improved.
Homeplate areas vary in size. Typically they are 26 ft in diameter however many groundskeepers make them larger to 30ft to reduce wear and tear of the grass during BP. However, 26 ft is the recommendation. The actual home plate is made of rubber and has five points. A regulation home plate is a 17-inch square with two corners of the square removed. The dimensions of home plate are 17 in. X 8½ in X 8½ in. X 12 in. X 12 in.
The home plate is set into the ground with the point at the intersection of the lines that extend from home plate to first base and third base. The 17 in. side of the plate faces the pitcher. The two 12 in. sides face the first and third baselines. The edges of the home plate should be beveled (have a slanted edge). Home plate should be set into the ground, level with the batters-box. In order to line up homeplate accurately string-lines can be used to set foul lines and the center of your field through the pitchers mound to second base. However its best to use a survey transit and or GPS to mark locations.
The homeplate should be a smooth slab of white rubber. In my travels I have seen numerous homeplates in fact i saw black homeplates in Latin america, (Which is an Intersting concept) but the MLB rule says the plate is to be white. The bury-all type homeplate is most preferred. Not the post or the recreational spiked homeplate.
