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The Mechanics of Pitching
Beginner or
experienced pitcher…fundamentals are important
by Gerald Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor, Denver, Colorado
We have often seen
that pitchers, even those who have extensive experience, have often
learned a “wrong” way of doing some part of the pitching motion or
delivery, and consequently might have developed habits that can limit
their ability and success…or even cause injuries.
In many areas of pitching there is no “right” or “wrong” way of
doing something, but instead a method needs to be chosen that best fits
a pitcher’s personal ability and comfort-level.
However, with the
fundamental “mechanics” of pitching, most qualified
pitching instructors will agree that most of what we have listed below
are the recommended procedures.
IMPORTANT:
There are a lot of steps to learn here.
Don’t try to perfect all of them at once.
Take things one at a time.
Nobody learns the basic mechanics overnight…take plenty of time
to learn and practice each step.
MECHANICS FIRST –
Learn, practice, and develop good pitching mechanics first...do NOT
worry about throwing strikes when you are learning how to pitch.
Learn how to do it right, make certain that everything is correct
and smooth, then later you can start adding speed.
Control
(throwing strikes)
should not be an issue in the beginning.
First learn the correct way of doing the pitching motion and
delivery. Then LATER you
can work on being accurate and throwing strikes.
BEFORE
PITCHING –
Always do a pre-practice pre-pitching routine.
Pitchers who don’t take adequate time to properly get ready to
throw the ball run the risk of injuring themselves, and always pitch
slower and with less accuracy.
A good preparation always involves (1)
Jogging
(to loosen tight body muscles), (2)
Stretching
(arms, legs, hamstrings, throwing arm shoulder, and
midsection…stomach/abs and lower back) for several minutes, (3) Loosen
the throwing arm by starting with easy
Overhand throws
from a shorter distance (4) gradually working back to a
Longer Distance
and harder overhand throwing.
Then, do the same thing underhanded:
(5) Short distance
underhand pitching,
then gradually working back to (6)
Full-distance, Full-speed pitching.
PRESENTATION –
Although this doesn’t have anything to do with “mechanics” of pitching,
this is a good time to discuss how to properly approach the pitching
rubber. Most softball
leagues and sanctioning associations require girl pitchers to approach
the pitching rubber from behind
(the side away from the batter)
to prepare for a
pitch. So now is the
time to get used to doing it.
Step up to the rubber from behind, and with your hands apart,
at your side…a good idea is to have the ball in one hand, the glove on
the other. This is called
the “presentation”… showing the batter that you have the ball and are
getting ready to pitch.
Mechanics of Pitching – page 2
STANCE –
Take a stance on the pitching rubber that is comfortable…standing tall,
with your shoulders back, and your feet far enough apart for you to be
balanced, hands at your side
(ball in one, glove on the other),
and your neck and upper body muscles feeling totally relaxed.
The feet must be placed where the league and softball sanctioning
associations require them to be.
Typically that means that the front
(throwing arm side)
“push-off” foot must be placed at the front of the pitching rubber, and
at least half of it must be on the surface of the rubber.
The rear
(or “stride”)
glove-side foot
can be behind the rubber.
But with some leagues, the ASA, the NCAA and others, the toe of the rear
foot must at least touching the rear edge of the pitching rubber.
GRIP–
Although there is no definite right or wrong way for a beginning pitcher
to hold the ball, she should develop habits now in preparation for
pitches that she will be developing later.
Therefore, we recommend that every pitcher start by using a
“4-seam” grip…one that will cause the pitched ball to rotate
top-to-bottom with all four seams cutting the air.
For the basic 4-seam grip, place the pads of your fingers on the
seams on the side of the “U” (horseshoe).
VISUALIZE –
As you are standing on the pitching rubber getting ready to start your
motion, take a second to try to “see” in your mind the path that the
ball will take when you throw it.
Although this is not really part of basic “mechanics” it is a
good idea to get used to the idea of visualizing the trajectory
of the ball… from the point that you will be releasing it alongside your
hip…all the way into the catcher’s mitt.
The concept of “creative visualization” can eventually also
assist in your fielding, throwing, and hitting.
BRING THE BALL AND
GLOVE TOGETHER – This is
the part that follows the “Presentation” of the ball that we mentioned
previously. Up to this
point, your pre-pitch stance has kept your hands at your side.
Most softball leagues and associations require that the ball and
the glove must touch together
(usually at least for one second)
before starting the pitching motion.
We recommend that you make the ball-glove contact close to where
your hands have been hanging…in front of you, and below your waist.
STARTING THE
MOTION - Although many
pitchers have developed a habit of a lot of extra motion into the
pre-pitch routine, bring your hands way above your head or bending over
at this point are simply extra movement and energy that is being used,
that will not really affect the speed or control of the pitch.
We recommend…especially for beginning pitchers…that you start
with your hands low, keep the ball-glove touch below the waist, and then
go right directly into your backswing.
BACK-SWING –
The speed or height of your backswing are not important.
Do what you feel is comfortable.
Typically, most pitchers will bring the ball out of their glove
and swing back to a point where the arm is approximately level.
If it feels more comfortable, take the arm back at a somewhat
slower speed. The
only time arm speed counts is when it is going forward, especially
during the final downswing just before the release point.
Mechanics of Pitching – page 3
FORWARD
MOVEMENT…WEIGHT TRANSFER –
After your arm does its backswing, as it starts coming forward, so will
your body. The
purpose of the “body lean”
(described elsewhere on this website)
is to start the transfer of your body
weight from your rear leg to the forward “push off” foot.
THE PUSH OFF
- It will be the push
against the front edge of the pitching rubber that starts the drive
outward, the long step, and the resulting speed of the pitch.
CLOSED-OPEN-CLOSED – This
is the most difficult part of learning to pitch.
When you are standing on the pitching rubber facing the catcher,
you are in a “closed” position
(imagine yourself as a door as seen by the catcher…you are “closed”).
But then, as you take the long step forward, approximately
halfway through your arm rotation you will be in an “open”
position…totally sideways to the catcher.
Then as the arm comes down in the final swing toward the release,
the upper body, then the hips will start to “close”.
However, as you will read below, the hips should only be
approximately halfway closed at the precise release point of the ball.
Then, after the release, the hips will continue to close,
allowing the pitcher to finish in the “ready” position…facing the
batter.
THE STRIDE –
The step that you take with your glove-side foot is often referred to as
the “stride”. Although
there is much disagreement among pitching instructors on this issue, we
have found that in most cases, those pitchers who have a longer
(and faster) stride throw a better fastball.
(NOTE FOR BEGINNING PITCHERS:
Wait a while before your start practicing with a longer stride.
Practice the basic mechanics of pitching first…you can
start lengthening the size of your step several weeks or months from
now.)
 How
long should the stride be?
Although this is something that must be right for the pitcher, a
typical stride for a leaping-style pitcher is 90% to 120% of her height.
We encourage our
pitchers to stride five inches or more beyond their height.
Therefore, a 5’6” pitcher will often stride 6 feet or more.
NO “LEAPING”
– All pitchers will either
take a long step or “leap” out to get better distance.
However, all organizations sponsoring girls softball do not allow
a pitcher to become airborne during the pitch…it is illegal to have both
feet in the air at the same time.
That is why pitchers who use a “leaping” style must also “drag”
the toe of the push-off foot on the ground until the stride foot touches
down. Typically, this toe
drag will be on inside of the toe of the shoe, and will make an arc
pattern in the dirt starting at the pitching rubber and continuing
toward the glove side for a foot or more.
ARM ROTATION – As the arm
comes forward, keep it relaxed and straight…but not stiff.
The arm speed should be consistent and fast the whole way around
(Eventually, you will learn to add an “arm whip”… accelerating the arm
during the final portion of the armswing just before the release.
But do NOT practice the arm whip yet).
As the arm is making the circle, your body will usually go to an
open (sideways) position and then will start closing as you approach the
release of the pitch.
Mechanics of Pitching – page 4
NO BOBBLE
HEAD - During this entire
arm circle and closed-open-closed sequence, do NOT let your head move
sideways. As much as you
can, keep your head straight…not stiff…just straight.
We often find that if a right-handed pitcher’s head tilts left,
the pitch goes to the right.
THE RELEASE –
There are several important things that need to happen as the arm
swings down toward the release point…and they need to happen at the same
time:
-
Keep the
wrist back as your arm
approaches the release point so it can “snap” forward at the precise
instant you release the ball.
-
Keep your
arm outstretched, but not
stiff, as you release
the ball. Do not allow your elbow to bend more than 15 or 20
degrees.
-
“Snapping”
– Although you might have been told to “snap” o NOT try to snap your
wrist forward at this point.
It can cause timing problems, and often cause you to pitch high.
-
 Fingers
behind the ball –
You can get better speed and control if your fingers are behind the ball
as it leaves your hand.
We often tell pitchers to think of it as “pointing the inside of
your wrist toward the catcher.”
Some pitchers are taught to “roll the ball over” as it is being
released in order to get a slight curve or drop on the fastball…but we
recommend against that. The
“over-the-top” release is often used by men pitchers.
We do NOT recommend it for our students, and feel it could be
injurious to young or smaller pitchers.
-
Stay
tall at the release.
Bring your shoulders back as your pitching arm starts its final
downswing toward the release point, so you can be upright and tall at
the finish. Do NOT
bend at the waist.
Bending slows down pitching speed, and often causes pitches to go high.
-
Keep your
shoulders level as you
release the pitch…no dipping down on the throwing-arm side.
THE
FOLLOW-THROUGH – This is
another of those areas where pitching instructors often have differing
opinions. Our
recommendation is to let the arm go where it wants to naturally.
At the instant the ball has left your hand, allow your arm to
relax, bend, and follow through straight ahead.
For most pitchers who use the fingers-behind-the-ball and
inside-of-the-wrist-toward-the-catcher method, the arm will bend
slightly, then follow though straight ahead (not across the body) with
the pitching hand finishing up somewhere waist-high or above, and moving
toward the bicep or shoulder.
SO,
THERE YOU HAVE IT.
That’s a list of more than 20 things that you need to train your
mind and body to do in a period of less than 2 seconds.
Again, don’t try to do everything at once!
Many pitchers with years of experience are still trying to
learn…or at least correct…some of the things that are mentioned above.
Learn one or two of these items… practice them, and make them
part of your habit. THEN,
go on to learn, practice, and develop a couple more.
GOOD MECHANICS means good pitching.
Make it work for you.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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Top Ten List for New Softball Pitchers
What to do, when, and in what order…for pitchers ages 9 to15
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching
Instructor
PHASE I
1. Throw a
minimum of 300
practice pitches each week
(400 would
be okay, too).
Practice…hard, serious practice is everything. Windmill pitching
is not going to be easy. You need to build up to the point where
you can throw 100 to 125 pitches every two or three days.
2. Master the mechanics of the pitch first…then speed.
Work
on learning and developing proper mechanics. Then as you become more
smooth and consistent with your motion, start adding speed. Do
NOT worry about control right now…it will come later. Make certain
you use: Consistent arm speed the whole way around; Arm
extended
(not bent)
the
whole way; Don't use only your arms and upper body to throw
the ball...as your arm reaches your hip, bring your hip through with the
pitch; Release the ball at your knee with the inside of the wrist
straight ahead…facing home plate. Then follow-through…let your
hand come up after the release, usually palm up, or whatever is natural
to you. Get your speed consistently fast.
PHASE II -
Control Your Pitch & Yourself
3. Throw at least
400
practice pitches each week
(500
is okay, too).
4. Develop control.
You can develop good control ONLY if you can control yourself.
Stay in your own head…whether in practice or in a real game
situation…don't get distracted. Don't worry about a bad pitch, or
fans or teammates yelling, or the umpire's call. Don't
complain, whine, or make bad facial expressions. You MUST keep
control…and show everyone else that you are the one in control.
YOU run the game.
Then,
after you get a smooth, comfortable roundhouse pitch and with good
speed, and after you really feel and look confident, then start
working on accuracy and placement of your pitches. Use the "4
corners": low and inside, low and outside, high and inside, and
high and outside.
Top Ten List – What to Do in What Order -
(Page 2 of 3)
5. Develop a GOOD change-up pitch…then use it.
The
speed of the change-up should be about ¾ the speed of your
fastball…about 12-15 miles per hour slower. Grip the ball far back
in your hand. There are several ways to throw a change-up
(stiff wrist,
circle change, back of hand, etc.)
each with your normal motion and arm speed. The key is to have no
wrist snap…keep your wrist locked. The idea is to not let the batter
know the ball will be coming in slower. Your facial expression and
your windmill delivery need to look exactly the same as your fastball.
Make certain your coach and your catcher don't always call the change-up
only when you have two strikes on the batter. Mix up your
pitches…sometimes use the change-up on the first pitch… sometimes on a
2-ball, 1-strike count, etc.
Count on
a minimum of 6 months to learn to throw a deceptive change-up
ANY new pitch you learn
(a change-up, drop ball, screwball, curve, rise ball, etc.)
might
each take up to 10,000 pitches before you get used to it. Be
patient. Work hard to make each pitch work the way it supposed to.
PHASE III
- After all of Phase II is done
6. Develop a drop ball…then work on it to make it
really
drop.
You need to
make it have a fast and perfect top-to-bottom spin as it goes toward the
plate. There are two common styles:
PEEL DROP - Throw it like your fastball, but roll it or
snap it up, off the tips of your fingers, to create a bottom-to-top
spin,
OR
ROLL-OVER DROP - Release the ball by "snapping it over"
to create the bottom-to-top spin. A good drop ball can be very effective
because it drops below the batter's bat, making her either hit only the
top of the ball for a grounder, or hopefully, swing totally over the
ball.
Both the "peel" or the "roll-over" style of drop ball are more effective
if you keep your upper body weight forward
(without bending at the waist
...directly
over the stride foot at the time of release. This is seen by many
pitchers as "being on top of the ball" and gives a greater opportunity
to give the ball a fast forward spin when thrown.
7. Off Speed Pitch
In
many pitchers' cases the "rollover" style drop ball will be
approximately 6 to 8 miles an hour slower than the fastball, and
therefore is a combined drop/off-speed pitch. You need something
between the speed of your fastball and your change-up. Just
like with the change-up, no batter or opposing coach should be able to
tell when you are throwing it.
8. Make certain your pitches all look the same.
A
batter should not be able to tell what kind of pitch you are going to
throw. Keep your grip hidden by your glove. Don't show your
grip until you start your backswing. Don't "telegraph" which pitch
you are going to thrown by using a certain facial expression or a
different motion.
Top Ten List – What to Do in What Order -
(Page 3 of 3)
PHASE IV
(don't go too fast...this phase is
years
away)
9. To gain confidence, throw
600
(or more)
pitches per week.
Never
let more than 2 days go by without practicing. Practice alone
doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
Work to make your last pitch better. ALWAYS work hard to improve
the pitches you have learned. Learn to stay cool and always show
that YOU are in control. Never let them see you sweat!
10. Learn one
more
pitch
(that works)…a
curve, screwball, or rise.
A
curve ball can be effective if it is really deceptive,
and really curves. The primary problem with a curve is that it is
thrown on the same level as the batter swings. Even if it curves a
little, it is still "hittable."
A screwball is a pitch that curves IN on a right-handed
batter…it looks like it is coming across the plate…then it moves in
toward the batter's hands. It IS possible to throw a
screwball that also rises.
A good rise ball can be your most effective
pitch…provided you can get it to work every time.
Thrown right, it will rise just before it gets to the plate, forcing the
batter to swing under it…popping it up, or missing it altogether.
If it doesn't work right, the ball levels out
chest-high, and you will give the batter a fat pitch up in her power
zone. Even many college pitchers still cannot throw a good rise
that works consistently. It
will take a lot of practice…many months…to develop a good, effective
rise ball.
If you have questions or would like more information, E-mail us at
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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Avoid
Pitching Injuries – What NOT to Do
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
Softball pitchers…even
those with years of experience…
often develop
(or were even taught)
incorrect pitching
mechanics.
Some can become successful.
However, the majority don’t
reach their maximum potential, and a large percentage end
up with short-term, or even career-ending, pitching injuries.
OUR
TOP 10 INJURY-CAUSING PITCHING PROBLEMS
If you are doing
any of these things, find a way to stop it
1) OVERUSE –
A significant percentage of softball pitching injuries are shoulder and
rotator cuff problems caused by too much pitching, often by using
incorrect pitching mechanics.
Although there is no single recommendation on the number of
pitches, innings pitched, or rest between pitching appearances that can
apply to all ages and sizes of pitchers, some restraint is advised.
A pitcher who repeats the same pitch over and over, such as the
rollover drop ball, faces a potential overuse injury.
2) INSUFFICIENT STRETCHING AND
WARM-UP –
Many athletes tend to rush through pre-practice or pre-game preparation.
Most serious pitchers need a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes
of JOGGING, STRETCHING,
SOFT OVERHAND THROWING, and FULL DISTANCE OVERHAND THROWING before they
throw their first underhand pitch.
Never stretch a tight muscle.
A 3 to 5-minute jog will loosen muscles before you start stretch.
Stretch for 5 to 10 minutes.
Pay attention to hamstrings, core muscles with twist cross-body
stretches, shoulders, arm rotation, and wrist movement.
3) BENDING AT THE
WAIST –
We see far too many young pitchers…and even some experienced ones…who
bend at the waist during the final portion of their pitching motion.
Bending is okay during the drive off the pitching rubber.
However, at the release of the pitch, bending forward causes a
slower pitch and often can lead to back injuries.
In still-frame video analysis, we often see some pitchers bending
forward
(a right-hander bends toward 3rd base…a left toward 1st)
as they are in the “open” position halfway through their arm rotation.
This can be even more injury producing because it puts a severe
2-way torque on the pitcher’s back.
4) “SNAPPING” THE
RELEASE –
Often very young pitchers get into the habit of stopping their arm
motion as soon as the ball leaves their hand.
Although a snap release can be used on occasion on some advanced
pitches, it should never be a common practice on your most-used
pitch…either a fastball or drop ball.
Continued snapping without a natural follow-through can lead to
elbow and forearm injuries.
A good follow-through on most pitches will allow the arm to relax and
bend immediately after the release, then follow up naturally to at least
waist high…and some pitchers’ follow through can continue until the hand
approaches the shoulder.
5) “CHICKEN-WINGING”
–
We often refer to a pitcher’s elbow that flies out during the pitching
motion as a “chicken wing”.
Since this is not a natural part of a pitch release or follow-through,
it can often lead to elbow and shoulder problems…as well as cause a
problem with pitch control.
Pitchers who use the rollover/snapover method for their drop ball
will often “chicken wing” at the release, and sometimes involve a
twisting of the arm all the way up to the shoulder.
To impart a tight spin (and avoid injury) with the rollover drop,
use only the forearm and wrist to snap the ball.
If necessary, lock your elbow against your side at the release to
avoid using the upper arm and shoulder.
Avoiding Pitching Injuries – What NOT to Do (continued)
6) PRACTICING
BREAKING PITCHES BEFORE YOU ARE READY
– Pre-teen pitchers are often encouraged to start work on drop balls,
curve balls, etc. even though their bone structure and dexterity aren’t
ready yet. Breaking pitches
typically require a hard, tight wrist snap to impart a fast spin on the
ball. Most 10, 11, and
12-year old pitchers…and even many who are older…are not yet
sufficiently physically developed to work on pitches that require a hard
snap of the wrist. Don’t be
tempted to do too much too soon!
Most young pitchers who brag about their curve, screw, or even
rise ball don’t throw those pitches effectively.
7) PITCHING FROM THE
“OPEN” POSITION –
Some pitchers are taught to “keep your body open
(sideways to the catcher) when you release the ball”.
Unfortunately, many who are taught with this method develop a
problem of bending at the waist (right-hander bends toward 3rd
base) during the final downswing and through the release of the
pitch. Needless to say,
this additional torque can put severe pressure on the pitcher’s back and
often results in lower back injuries.
8) IMPROPER LANDING
OF THE STRIDE FOOT –
Since the majority of female fastpitch pitchers use the “leap and drag”
style of pitching, it is important that the stride leg drives out fast
and far. Ideally, the knee
will be slightly bent at landing and the stride foot will land at an
angle of between 20 and 30 degrees.
If the pitcher’s foot is pointing more directly toward the
catcher, it can cause the bent knee to “buckle” and lead to injury.
If the foot lands at more of an angle…more than 45 degrees, it is
too far sideways, and the “blocking” or pushback against the landing
foot can cause an ankle, calf, and/or knee problem.
9) “JERKING” THE
SHOULDERS OR HEAD BACK AT THE RELEASE OF THE PITCH –
Although rare, some pitchers can develop a body “jerk” as they whip
their arm down through the release point.
Although this “arm whip” is essential for maximizing the speed of
the pitch, it should not involve any snapping of the upper back, neck,
or head. Some pitchers who
have developed this “jerking” motion suffered back or neck injuries.
Those who haven’t corrected the problem are facing a similar
risk.
10) DOING THINGS THE WAY A
MAN PITCHER DOES IT –
We have mentioned several times on our
www.pitchsoftball.com
website that a majority of fastpitch softball pitching instructors are
men. Unfortunately,
there is a tendency by many male instructors to tell girl softball
pitchers to “do it the way I do it” regardless of the girl’s age, size,
physical and emotional development, athletic ability, etc.
The way a 220-lb, 6-foot tall man throws a pitch doesn’t apply to
a 10-year old girl, and isn’t even necessarily right for a 120-lb.
teenage girl pitcher. There
are alternate ways of throwing a change-up, drop ball, curve ball, etc.
that need to be adjusted to the needs and comfort-level of the pitcher.
Pitching should be a rewarding, and as much as possible, an
injury-free experience.
If you are doing anything that has caused, or could eventually lead to,
injuries, NOW is the time to correct it.
Don’t let a bad habit or improper mechanics hurt your game.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com |
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Pre-Practice and Pre-Game
Preparation
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching
Instructor
Warming
up properly and
completely…in
practice or before a game…is essential for good pitching performance.
We routinely find that when a pitcher runs into trouble, especially
during the early innings, it is because she rushed through her
pre-game preparation. Depending on the pitcher, her age, and the types
of pitches she throws, warm-up and prep time varies from as little as
15-minutes to more than 1-hour. A 10-year old rec league
pitcher with a 35mph fastball can be ready to go in a few minutes.
Top college and pro pitchers routinely take 45 minutes or more to
stretch, prepare, and warm-up before throwing their first pitch in a
game.
One axiom is true for everyone:
The better you stretch, prepare, and warm-up before
a game
(or before a practice),
the better you will pitch.
The full 30-minute warm-up:
A 30-minute plan is recommended for most high school pitchers with a
repertoire of 3 or more pitches. Younger pitchers with few
advanced pitches can do a pre-practice preparation in 15 minutes or so.
- Warm-up with your regular catcher if at all
possible. She needs to see what is working and what is not, and
what pitches your are throwing accurately.
- Practice does not make perfect.
Perfect practice makes
perfect. Take your warm-up seriously. Don't goof around, and don't
get sidetracked in other conversations that will make you lose your
concentration.
- Start of your warm-up as close to practice or
game time as possible. But don't cut things too close. You don't
want to get warmed too soon, then cool down and lose your sharpness
before the game. But you also don't want to start warming-up too
late and not have enough time to get everything loose and your
pitches working.
Before
You Start Throwing:
1.
Jog, then Run - for at least 5 minutes...to loosen up before stretching
2.
Stretch-out completely (especially arms, shoulders, trunk, and legs) -
5-10 minutes
* Take plenty of time to stretch right...this can
affect your pitching speed & prevent injuries
Begin 30
Minutes of
Pitching
Warm-Up:
3. Overhand throwing - start
easy at short distance, then gradually extend the distance & work up to
full speed
4. Underhand throwing -
start close and easy, then work to full distance, full speed
5. Accuracy - get your
fast ball hitting the corners
6. Change-up - get your
change to work deceptively and accurately
7. Spin - close and
easy…get your (drop, curve, rise) spin working well at slow speed
8. Add speed to the spin.
Get the spin working first...then add speed to the pitch
9. Accuracy - get your
breaking pitch(es)
(drop, curve,
screwball, and rise ball)
working, and accurately
10. Practice all of your
pitches. Catcher: call them just as you would in a game.
If one doesn't work or isn't
accurate, throw it again…until you get it right.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at
gw@pitchsoftball.com |
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How
to Stop Leaning Forward When You Pitch
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
Every softball pitcher
can pitch with better speed and better control if she
brings her shoulders back and “comes back tall” as she releases the
ball. Biomechanics
studies have shown that a pitcher will have maximum “torque”…and
therefore throw harder…if she does not lean forward as she finishes the
pitch.
Visitors to our website often ask what a pitcher can do to correct her
leaning problem. Here is
our reply to a recent
e-mail:
The “bending over” problem is pretty common with young pitchers, and
sometimes even with those who are high school or college age. It
usually starts when a pitcher is told by her coach to “just throw
strikes.” Then, when she tries to keep her pitches over the plate,
she leans forward and "reaches out" to push the ball toward the batter.
When you first started pitching, it probably helped a little bit
with control, but hurt your pitching mechanics...and now, it slows down
your pitching speed AND can cause you to have back injuries if it isn't
corrected properly.
Here are some recommendations:
1) Focus on "staying tall" at the release of the ball.
As you stand on the pitching rubber prior to starting the pitch,
stand with your shoulders back, and feel that small curve in the lower
portion of your back. Now THAT'S the way you need to feel when you
release the pitch. Standing on the rubber with good posture
before the start of the pitch helps with muscle memory, and develop the
same position as the ball is released.
2) Think: "As my pitching arm comes down toward
the release, I will bring my shoulders back".
3) "Shoulders back - hips forward" at the release.
4) During pitching practice have someone stand just
beside where your landing foot comes down, then stretch out their arm
(shoulder high)
in front
of you. Your job is to pitch the ball under their
outstretched arm. Go slow the first couple of times, then as
you gain confidence start to throw the pitch full speed. The
idea, of course, is that you don't want to hit your upper body against
their arm, so you will bring your shoulders back to avoid it.
If you don't want to face their
arm, let them stretch a bat out in front of you. You can also set up a
string or rope to have the same effect. Stretch it across
your path about shoulder high.
Quite often we find a pitcher who does not have good trunk strength.
Your stomach/ab muscles and particularly those in your mid-back need to
be strong...not just to help keep you upright, but also for the
"closing" trunk rotation as your pitching arm comes down to the release
point. If you aren't already working on strengthening your
mid-section, start a program that involves sit-ups, crunches, and leg
lifts and other ab and back exercises several times per week.
5)
The "arm whip"...increase the speed of the arm during its final
downswing going into the release point. A faster arm whip
will simultaneously require the shoulders to be pulled back, causing you
to be taller at the release, and typically will create a slightly
earlier release point, therefore bringing the pitch down.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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She’s 11-Years Old - Great Rise Ball?
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
It’s a great
dream…a young pitcher throwing the infamous rise ball.
Pitchers and their parents like to brag about their repertoire of
pitches…even though all of the pitches often look alike with no movement
at all. A rise ball is not
merely a pitch that is released low and thrown to a chin-high spot.
Other pages on this site discuss the
spin direction, fast spin speed,
and fast pitch speed required for
a “legitimate” rise ball.
In 20 years of training scores of pitchers of
all ages and observing thousands more we are yet to see a pre-teen
pitcher with a true “moving” rise ball.
Many young pitchers have been misled…and some even hurt…by consistently
trying to throw a
riser before they are capable of doing it.
It doesn’t work for a young pitcher…and here is why:
A sizeable percentage of pitchers, even
older experienced ones,
do not even know the direction that a rise
(or even a drop
ball, curve, or screw ball)
needs to spin in order to cut into the air to make the ball go in a
specific direction. And a
rise ball, in order to really move, needs to be spinning bottom-to-top
at almost twice the speed of a drop ball.
And even with good spin, for a rise ball to work right it needs
to be thrown at a speed at least in the mid-50’s…and preferably 60+ mph.
Former Olympian and ESPN softball announcer Michele Smith feels
that the best speed for a good rise ball is between 61 and 65 mph.
Classic
form for a rise ball release
We have seen many
team coaches of 10U, 12U, and even some 14U teams, thinking that a
pitcher has a rise ball simply because she throws high pitches, calls
for the rise pitch to be thrown during games.
And then, when the pitch simply comes in as a high flat fast
ball, blames the pitcher every time an opposing batter connects with it.
Good rise ball pitchers often place their rise ball at mid-thigh
on the batter…provided it has good rise ball spin, spin speed,
pitch speed, and movement.
And to add to the
problem, many people who give pitching lessons try to teach a rise ball
release to young pitchers without disclosing the very small potential of
success
(and the real risk of injury when practicing the hard wrist snap)
.
By attempting to teach the rise ball to a young girl, it (1)
gives false hope to the pitcher,
(2) has her and her parents
“thinking” that she can throw a rise ball, but (3) keeps the pitcher
going back to the instructor for more lessons.
Most responsible pitching instructors will wait until a pitcher
is ready…in terms of ability, pitch speed, and commitment…before having
her to start working on a rise ball.
For some, that might be at 14 or 15-years old…others much later.
See also these
pages on the PitchSoftball.com website:
http://pitchsoftball.com/RiseBallSecrets.html
http://pitchsoftball.com/Page11.html
http://pitchsoftball.com/AllPitchesHaveanArc.html
If you have questions or need more information
E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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Off-Season Drill
to Increase Speed
by Gerald Warner,
Softball Pitching Instructor
The off-season is an ideal time to make necessary
major adjustments to your
mechanics, develop a new breaking pitch or two, AND to increase the
speed of your fastball.
However, during the late-Fall and Winter period from November to March,
pitchers who
live or go to school in cold-weather states don’t always find it
possible to practice outdoors.
We have found that the most beneficial speed-increasing drill for
softball pitchers is one that can be done at home…and it is a simple one
to set up. It involves
hanging a remnant piece of carpeting
(or an old rug, or even a heavy tarp)
from a joist in the ceiling of
a basement or garage. Then,
from a pitching rubber 10 or 12 feet away, pitch with all of your
power…throwing it as hard as you can into the carpet.
Use good body mechanics the
same as you do when you are pitching outside.
But here, the objective is to teach your body to throw
harder…don’t worry about control…just “wail away”.
The key is to get better with each pitch.
Take a little time in between pitches and think what you can do
to make your delivery smoother and to throw the next one a little
harder. This is the
off-season, so you won’t be throwing to a live batter for weeks or
months. By doing this
exercise for 75 or so pitches per session, three or four times per week,
will condition your body…and you mentally…to substantially increase your
fastball speed. Then, as
soon as you get into live practices with a real catcher, your pitch
control and accuracy will come back…but with a much greater velocity.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
(1) You might be
able to get a free remnant at a carpet store if you tell the Manager
what you want to use it for.
(2) Find a piece of carpet at least 6-feet wide so you don’t have
to worry about missing it when you throw.
And, if floor-to-ceiling height is 7 or 7½ feet, the carpet
should be at least 10-feet long
(at
the floor, let it curve outward toward the pitcher, to help with ball
return).
(3) Don’t bother painting a strike zone on it…the purpose of this
exercise is to throw hard…without focusing on accuracy right now.
Incidentally, we recommend that young pitchers…and even some in high
school or college…can benefit by taking an off-season break from
softball. We have seen
many promising young girls (or their parents) who become so obsessed
with softball that they “live it” 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year.
Then, by the time they reach high school age and should be
approaching greatness, they “burn out” …softball has become a
job…it’s no longer fun.
So, for a month or so during the late Fall or Winter, consider
taking some time off.
Clear your head of softball for a while; concentrate on homework,
your family and friends, school activities, and maybe even your
social life. Don’t
totally forget about softball and don’t lose sight of your goals,
but at least focus a little bit on other things for a few weeks.
Then, when you are ready, get back into softball with a new and
fresh attitude and commitment.
It’s a great game, and you can do it better when your heart
is really into it.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at
gw@pitchsoftball.com |
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The Best Pitch
Location – Low or High?
by
Gerald Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
We did an extensive 3-year study on the basic subject of pitch placement
and
which locations resulted in the most hits, and which resulted in 3rd
strikes.
This is a subject where each of us feels we are THE expert…coaches,
parents, and pitchers…all of us have our opinions of where to throw
certain pitches – low and inside, up and away, on the batter’s hands, a
“chase” pitch low and outside, etc.
Typically, the pitch and location are called by the catcher or
dugout coach based on the batter and the situation.
But after studying thousands of during-the-game pitches (*)
thrown by travel ball, college, and high school pitchers, we now
have some statistics to support what many coaches and pitchers have
always emphasized.
Read the notes at the bottom of this page to see how and where we
observed pitch locations.
We looked at pitches on whether they were above or below the top of the
thigh…essentially at the point where the leg meets the body.
It certainly was not scientifically nor statistically perfect,
and was often based on an opinion of where the ball crossed the plate,
but it does give an accurate representation of what happened.
Here is a summary of the results:
78%
of all hits were from pitches above the batter’s thigh
22%
of all hits were from pitches below the top of the thigh
39%
of 3rd strikes were from high pitches
(chest to top of the thigh)
61%
of 3rd strikes were from low pitches
(knees to top of the thigh)
Many of the upper-half hits were either from rise balls that didn’t rise
(flattened out), or from fastballs that went above their mark.
However, with some of the younger travel ball teams and high
school games, we actually observed coach/dugout calls for
waist-to-chest-high fastballs…that, needless to say, resulted in some
BIG hits. The majority of
the lower-half strikeouts were from down-and-in fastballs, good drop
balls, and outside curves.
“KEEP
IT LOW”
We recommend never throwing high fastballs especially over the
outside half of the plate (zones 4, 5, 7, and 8).
Instead, use the inside corners, and the low-outside corner.
Our advice for most situations is to keep the fastball low, and
use only the screw ball or rise ball for upper-half pitches.
We also like to see pitchers occasionally use a
down-and-in rise or screw.
A screw ball thrown to an opposite-handed batter can also be
thrown low-and-away …making it a good “chase” pitch.
For most drop ball, change-up, and curve ball situations, the
best location is low and away.
*
Pitch placement was determined by recording at what level the
ball crossed the plate or was hit…in the strike zone below the
top of the batter’s thigh, or above the top of the thigh.
Our observation point was always at a sideline location down the
1st or 3rd baseline, and therefore either facing
or behind the batter.
All data was collected from 14U-A to 18U-Gold travel ball games,
Division I college games, and a handful of high school games.
Among the tournaments where pitch placement was recorded were the
Colorado Fireworks Tournament (over 200 14U-18U travel ball teams
participate each year), the Boulder
Independence Day Tournament, the
NCAA College World Series in Oklahoma City,
and the former Kia Classic and Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton,
California.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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The Development of a Softball Pitcher -
What to Do
First…and What Comes Next
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching
Instructor
We have seen too many promising young pitchers ultimately get
frustrated, and in some cases quit pitching softball because they were
encouraged to do too much too quickly. Sometimes a pitcher, a parent,
or even a coach brags about how many pitches a young pitcher can throw.
Trying to learn new pitches before you are doing the fundamentals
correctly is a waste of time. Learning to pitch takes a long
time...with a lot of hard work and practice.
Below is what we recommend as a step-by-step skills-development plan for
each of our pitchers:
Step 1 - Develop good mechanics
a) Start by fully relaxing your neck, arms, & upper body
(a relaxed muscle is a fast muscle)
b) Let your body lean forward
(full body…don't bend at the waist)
as your start your arm forward, and push off
the rubber to help get a good long "reaching out" stride.
Your push-off and stride will eventually
be your keys to good speed.
c) "Open" your body
(facing 3rd base for a right-hander)
as you go into the rotation.
d) The arm circle must be fast and consistent
(smooth…no jerkiness)
with constant arm speed during the entire
rotation; keep the arm straight
(no bent elbow)
the whole way around.
e) Keep your stride straight…toward home plate. Land with
your stride foot turned at a slight
(30° to 45°)
angle, with the toe touching down near, or on, the invisible line
between you and the catcher.
f) Nearing the release point, quickly "close" your body
(toward the catcher)…first
the shoulder, then bring
your hip through with the ball.
g) At the release point, have your wrist back, then snap it
through as you release the ball.
h) Let your arm follow-through loose and naturally after the
release. You will likely with finish with
your palm facing you, and perhaps coming all the way up to touch
your shoulder.
Step 2
(during the next couple of months)
- Increase your speed
Don't
worry about control right now…work on making your mechanics smooth and
natural… and throw hard. Your control will be fine when your
mechanics are correct.
Step 3
(after mechanics and speed are good)
- Accuracy & Location
Be able to accurately place your pitch in any of the four corners.
For most high school batters, low-outside and low-inside will work best.
For power-hitters, you can occasionally use high-inside, too.
Eventually, you need to be able to pitch to a specific location so well
that you will never throw right down the middle.
(continued)
Softball Pitching - What to Do First…and What Comes Next
(Page 2)
Step 4
(after Steps 1, 2, & 3 )
–
Have a
Change-of-Speed
Pitch
(develop a change-up)
To
the batter, a good change-up should look just like your fast ball…with
the same motion, arm speed, facial expression, and no "telegraphing".
Ideally, a change-up will be at least 20% to 25% slower than your
fastball (If you throw a 50 mph fastball, the change should come in at
37-42 mph).
There are several ways to throw a change-up
(stiff wrist,
circle change, back of hand, etc.)
- Visualize in your mind how the ball will arc and come down to the
plate
(low and outside)
-
Move the ball back in the palm of your hand
(which
restricts the wrist snap)
- Keep your wrist "locked" straight
(no wrist
snap)
-
"Pop" or flip the ball out
(depending on
which style of release you use)
-
Follow through low, and toward the catcher
Step 5 - Develop pitches that go down, up, & sideways
IMPORTANT:
Again, don't try to do to much too soon! Breaking pitches won't be
valuable unless you can throw a decent fastball accurately. So you have
to start by really LEARNING the fundamentals of pitching,
developing proper and smooth pitching mechanics, then add speed to your
fastball, and finally develop consistently good control of your pitches.
Then, we recommend that your 2nd pitch is a good, deceptive change-up
(above). Now, after you have your fastball and change-up working
really well, then consider working on your first additional pitch.
DROP BALL
- After you have practiced, worked hard, and have really developed
everything in 1 through 4 (above), THEN start working on your drop ball.
Your drop will, for most batters, be far more effective than a curve,
screwball, or rise…especially through high school. At best,
the batter will "top it"…meaning that they will keep it on the ground.
SCREW BALL
and/or CURVE BALL - Like the rise, the curve and screw
are nice to have in your repertoire in preparation for college, but get
the "Big-3" (fast, change, drop) working first.
RISE BALL
- The rise is very difficult to perfect…it will take time…perhaps years.
After you have an awesome change-up, a good drop ball that works all the
time, and perhaps one other pitch...THEN work on the rise.
If you have
questions or would like more information, E-mail us at
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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“Body Lean”…the start of a strong
pitch
by
Gerald Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
At the start of the pitching sequence when throwing a fastball, a
typical “leap-and-drag” pitcher starts a transfer of her weight from her
rear leg to her front “push-off” leg to give a strong push against the
pitching rubber with her pitching-side foot.
Although often not emphasized by pitching coaches, this is the
start of a series of events…all of which happen in less than
half-of-a-second…that determine the ultimate speed and placement of the
pitch.
1.
The rapidity and completeness of the weight
transfer from back leg to front leg directly affects
2.
The speed of the stride leg going forward, which
affects
3.
The length of the stride, which affects
4.
The extent of “opening” of the trunk, which
affects
5.
The “closing” of the trunk, which affects
6.
The “closing” of the shoulders, which affects
7.
The speed of the final downswing of the arm (the
“arm whip”), which affects
8.
The ability to add a strong wrist snap, which
ultimately affects
9.
The SPEED and the CONTROL of the pitch
Therefore, a primary goal in the mechanics of throwing
a fastball should be to maximize the weight transfer, which creates the
power for the push-off from the pitching rubber.
We always encourage
leaping-style pitchers to use their body weight to help with the
push-off. As the
weight transfer from back leg to front leg is taking place, let the
upper torso begin a “fall” forward…no bending at the waist…just a
forward fall of the erect body.
This feeling of “leaning” with the entire body
(again, NOT at the waist) can
substantially increase the subconscious need to push harder with the
push-off foot and create a greater speed of the stride leg to avoid the
consequences of “falling” forward.
The result is a faster and longer stride, harder landing of the
stride foot, and a subsequent series of actions, which result in a
harder-thrown fastball.
DRILL:
To practice this “body lean” concept, stand in your normal
position on the pitching rubber.
Without winding up, keeping your body erect, start a slow “fall”
forward. Don’t let your
non-pitching leg take the stride until the last possible instant.
Did you feel the need to quickly push-off the rubber so your
stride leg could save you from falling?
DRILL:
Stand on the pitching rubber as if you are going to pitch,
directly facing your (strong) parent or coach.
With his/her hands on your shoulders, and without bending your
body at the waist, gradually start falling forward…don’t worry, your
partner’s hands will stop you from falling.
As you continue to slowly fall, start raising your stride
foot until you feel all of your weight pushing against your pitching
rubber foot. This is the
pressure you need to push off with in order to have a fast and long
stride. Now, have your
partner
(that you have been trusting to not drop you on your face)
push you back into the upright position
This is always a slight
lean…the best pitchers lean
(without
counting the waist bend) to the 1:30 or 2:00 position.
The body lean can help
substantially with increasing the speed of your fastball.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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The Best
Change-Up
by
Gerald Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
"It doesn't matter if you grip it with two fingers, four fingers, your
knuckles, or your elbow...the best change-up is one that
looks
like you are throwing a fastball, then crosses the plate slow enough to
mess up the batter's timing."
As we
discussed in another article on this website, the change-up is a "must"
for all competitive pitchers. When thrown correctly a
good change-up can not only intimidate a batter, but it also puts the
pitcher in control of the game. The pitcher always knows
what pitch she is going to be throwing... but batters on the other team
always have to be on edge, "What is she going to throw at me now?"
If you can throw a change properly, your effectiveness as a pitcher can
improve as much as 50%!
(Go to the
page "Why You Need a Good Change-Up" by clicking
HERE).
In
addition to being
deceptive,
a good change-up should have a speed
25% to
35% slower
than your fastest pitch. Therefore:
If your
fastball is
60
miles per hour, your change-up should be about
40
mph
If your
fastball is
53
miles per hour, your change-up should be about
35
mph
If your
fastball is 45
miles per hour, your change-up should be about
30
mph
To see
the "arc" that your speed of change-up should make, see the article
elsewhere on this website, titled
All Pitches Have an Arc
.
There are
4
basic rules that
you should follow when throwing a change-up:
(1) The GRIP should be
the same as you use on your fastball.
(2) Your backswing, arm
circle, & facial expression should look just like a fastball.
(3) Your stride
should NOT change...keep it the same length as for the fastball.
(4) MOST IMPORTANT:
Do NOT slow down your arm rotation!
(By releasing the pitch properly using any of the basic styles mentioned
below, you will automatically lose the extra arm whip, and by keeping
your wrist stiff you will eliminate the wrist snap at the release of the
ball...without the arm whip and wrist snap you should be taking the
right amount of speed off the pitch).
On the next page are brief descriptions of the basic styles change-up.
None is the "right" one. Although most pitching
instructors have a favorite style, what is right for the instructor
might not be right for you. Each pitch, including the
change-up, needs to work...and that means that the grip, and the type of
release must be a style that YOU are comfortable with.
The Best Change-Up – P.2
STIFF
WRIST
(or "OPEN PALM")
CHANGE -
This style takes a
lot of practice to make it work well, but it can be very deceiving when
thrown right. Grip the ball far back in your hand instead of on
the fingertips. The wind-up, arm rotation, and body movements are
all the same as the fastball. Keep your wrist stiff as you approach the
final part of the arm swing. Then, PRECISELY at the release point
"pop" open you fingers
(like a piece of
exploding popcorn) letting
the ball be pushed through the release on the heel of your hand.
"FLIP"
(or
TURNAROUND)
CHANGE -
The "flip"
is the most commonly-used method of throwing a change-up, but is also
difficult to learn to throw properly. The grip is essentially the
same as your fastball grip, but the difference happens during the arm
rotation. During the final downward swing of the arm...just
before the release...turn your hand around so that the OUTSIDE of the
wrist is going toward the catcher. To release the ball, let
the hand come through the release point and "flip" it to the catcher.
Another variation of the release is to keep the wrist stiff and let the
ball roll from the ends of the fingers.
If the speed of this style of
change-up is too fast, try changing the grip. Use your thumb and
little finger
(pinkie) to grip the ball,
leaving the three middle fingers loose. Another type of grip
is to use the circle change grip described below, but still release the
ball with the backward flip.
CIRCLE
CHANGE -
This style is generally used by younger pitchers just starting practice
with the change-up...although we see many experienced pitchers who use
the circle grip to throw a flip change. To throw a "circle
change", grip the ball with the tips of the thumb and index
(pointer) finger touching and
forming a circle. Therefore the thumb and index finger are
on the side of the ball and being held in place by two or all three
remaining fingers. There are two ways to release the circle
change: (1) As the hand approaches the release point, turn it
sideways so the finger circle is going directly toward the catcher
(imagine that there is a dot in the middle of the finger circle, and
your job is to throw the dot to the catcher); OR (2) As the
hand is on the final downward swing approaching the release point, keep
the wrist STIFF and release it the same as described for the stiff wrist
/ open palm change-up described above.
KNUCKLE
BALL -
Although often
used to throw a true "knuckle ball" at a faster speed, the knuckle GRIP
can also be used with a change-up release. The value of the
knuckle change is that is has no or very little spin, and therefore
cannot be hit as far if the batter makes contact. And,
although not of great importance, on a windy day it can have a "wobble"
effect in the air as it approaches the plate.
(This takes a larger hand to accomplish:)
Grip the ball with the knuckles of
the first two or three fingers against the stitches of the ball
(on the SIDE of the "U" or "horseshoe").
If your hand is smaller and you find this difficult, you can also use
the tips of your fingers instead of the knuckles by digging the
fingernails into the stitches on the side of the "U".
Release the ball the same way described for the stiff wrist / open palm
change-up described above. Or for the knuckle change, you
can also use the "shove" release below.
SHOVE
CHANGE - The
"shove" is used effectively by some, but not many pitchers, and is
essentially a variation of the stiff wrist / open palm change-up
described above. The primary difference is that with the
shove method, as your arm is in its final downward swing,
instead
of tightening your wrist...bend your elbow slight to shorten your
pitching arm and "shove" the ball toward the plate.
Although a couple of the change-up methods are more popular than others,
no one is the "best". YOU have to find the one that works
best for YOU.
The
BEST change-up is one that looks like a fastball
The
WORST change-up is one that looks like a change-up
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com |
|
“Finishing” the
Pitch…for Speed and Control
Develop a Long and
Fast Stride, Good Landing, and Correct Pushback Against the Stride Leg
by Gerald
Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
“Stay Tall” and “have a firm front side” - We always encourage pitchers
to finish their pitching rotation by bringing their shoulders back and
having their body upright
(no bending at the waist).
But
it is the LOWER portion of a pitcher’s body that can GREATLY improve the
speed and control of her fastest pitch.
For traditional leaping-style pitchers
(the majority of female pitchers are
“leapers”),
the whole sequence of lower-body
pitching “mechanics” is based on three important stages:
(1)
a powerful push-off from the pitching rubber
(2)
a strong, fast, and long stride
(3)
a push-back against the stride leg as the pitching arm
comes down through the release point
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The smaller percentage that we call “stepping style”
pitchers who use a shorter stride with no leap,
depend largely on upper body strength, and their
specific mechanics for increasing pitch speed are
considerably different from what is being discussed
here.
|
|
Sir Isaac Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion says that “for every
action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.
With a “leaping” method of softball pitching, at the end of the
stride the push-back against the stride leg serves as the resistance (or
“reaction”) for the action of the arm as it does its final downswing
into the release of the pitch.
Therefore, a leaping-style pitcher must have a strong, fast
push-off from the pitching rubber in order to drive her stride leg out
fast and far. Then the
power, speed, and landing of the stride determines how effectively the
pitcher can push back against her stride leg to give her the
resistance for a hard final arm “whip” to throw the ball with maximum
speed:
Increase Your Speed with a Good Landing and Correct Pushback
(continued)
A good landing of the stride leg is with the knee slightly bent to
“cushion” the leg as the pitcher’s weight is temporarily shifted
forward. But then, just as
in batting, the pitcher “blocks” or “builds a wall” with the stride leg,
and pushes back against it.
Often, especially with young pitchers, the stride leg is slightly
bent at landing, but then bends even more which substantially reduces
the pushback against the leg, and virtually eliminates the possibility
of throwing a good, fast pitch:
Bent leg…weaker pushback
Good
pushback…faster pitch
Even though the length of the stride is important
(usually 90% to 125% of the pitcher’s height),
to work on increasing a pitcher’s speed, we always look at the power and
quickness of the stride to allow for a “blocking” or hard push-back
against the stride leg at the end of the pitch sequence.
Ideally, we want the pitcher to have these positions as the
precise point that the pitch leaves her hand:
(1)
Her stride leg which was slightly bent at landing, has
straightened , and is at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees
(more for rise ball, less for drop ball)
(2)
She is pushing back against her stride leg
(3)
Her upper body is approximately one-third of the way back
from her front foot
(4)
Her shoulders are most of the way closed
(5)
Her hips are halfway
(or slightly less than halfway)
closed
These photos of pitchers of various ages demonstrate all five of these
critical components:
If you want to maximize YOUR pitching speed…and have good control of
your pitches, always work on correctly finishing your pitch:
·
Upper body upright at the release
·
Push back against your stride leg
·
Shoulders most of the way closed
·
Hips halfway or less closed at the release
If you have questions or need more information
E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com
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The Fine Art
of Creating a Striped Softball
 by
Gerald Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
A striped softball is
an excellent tool to assist a pitcher with making certain that she has
the (a) the correct rotation and (b) the maximum spin speed on her
breaking pitches.
If you are highly intelligent, have very good athleticism, and are
skilled in freehand art, then you too can create a striped softball.
Otherwise, you can get a 12-year old to do it for you.
Seriously though, this is one of the best tools for a pitcher who is
constantly trying to improve her drop, curve, screw, and rise balls.
Every breaking pitch needs to spin in the correct direction, and
needs to be rotating at a fast speed.
A ball with a stripe drawn across the center of its four seams is
the best visual indicator of spin direction and spin speed.
TO
CREATE A
(standard “4-seamer”)
STRIPED BALL:
(1)
Find a cup or glass that is just the right size to allow a
softball to sit in the opening, with just a little more than half of the
ball sticking above the rim.
(Finding the right size cup is kind of fun, because it might involve
buying a few different sizes of Slurpees, soft drinks, etc. from your
local convenience store or sandwich shop).
 (2)
Place the ball softly
(don’t push it hard into the cup)
into the top with the
“narrows” of the seams at the absolute top.
Take some time to make certain the ball is correctly set with the
middle of the close-together seams straight up.
(3)
Using the top of the cup as your guide, use a felt-tip
permanent marker to draw the first line around the ball… passing
through the middle of the 4 wide-apart seams.
 (4)
After completing the first line, turn the ball over with the
other set of “narrows” at the top, and draw the second line the same
way.
(5)
Leaving some planned open areas, fill in the space between the
two lines with another color permanent marker
(like the red one in this example).
We recommend that you do not fill in the middle areas totally so
it will be easier to see the speed of the rotation when the ball is
thrown.
(See the example at the top of
this page).
For pitchers who use a “4-seam” release on each of their breaking
pitches, the stripe will make it easy to see the straight or angled
direction of the rotation, AND the partially-filled in color will give
an indication of the speed of the spin.
If you have questions or need more information, E-mail us at:
gw@pitchsoftball.com |
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