However, most pitchers find control and comfort with a grip that allows the ball to rotate from top to bottom. The best way to get this movement is to turn the softball so that the seam makes a “U” to the side, instead of up and down. For most pitchers, it’s comfortable to bring the ball and glove together near the waist at the front of the body. This keeps the pitching arm in a neutral position and helps you to save energy.
You are literally just minutes away from learning the most effective and proven movements involved in the throwing motion. So I’ve put together this guide – think of it as a cheat sheet – that breaks the throw down into 7 positions that a young player should focus on. In under 30 minutes I will teach you the 7 Movements to focus on to best baseball swing trainer get your young player on the right track to throwing their best. I believe you will really enjoy teaching your P’s & C’s this super fun part of the game! Once they get comfortable figuring out how to get ahead and how to get hitters to swing out their “out” pitches confidently, you can start introducing some hitter situations to them.
To properly drag, pitchers should turn their foot to the side and point it, like a dancer. Dragging the inside of the foot, on the “big toe” side, allows for maximum extension on the leap as well as comfort for the pitcher, so it is recommended. While it is good to experiment and discover the best pitching style for each player, this should be done under your adult supervision to ensure safety and good habits. You get instant access to 29 game-tested drills for developing an unstoppable pitcher. If you’re looking for drills to help reinforce these mechanics, make sure you check out the Ultimate Softball Pitching Drills eBook. Cocking the wrist only tenses the pitcher, which is the exact opposite of how we want our pitchers to feel.
We talk about what’s needed to find that passion for what you are doing as an athlete (a $25 value). You think others judge you when you make poor throws or pitches. Here are three areas any hitter can focus on to prepare successfully at the plate and become more valuable to their team.
When analyzing the windmill softball pitch, it is often split into different movement phases identified by the position of the throwing arm. As Maffett3 has described, Phase 1 is the windup to 6 o’clock; Phase 2 from 6 o’clock to 3 o’clock; Phase 3 from 3 o’clock to 12 o’clock; Phase 4 from 12 o’clock to 9 o’clock; and Phase 5 from 9 o’clock to ball release. I recently came across an article called The Three Little Pigs and Softball Pitching and it got me thinking about how fastpitch softball pitching mechanics have advanced over the past couple of decades. Since the first Olympics in 1996, the sport of softball has truly grown. The growth of the sport combined with improvements in technology, has led to a much deeper understanding about softball pitching mechanics.
Pitching is a hard position to play well, and people will understand if you’re just learning. Remember to keep the ball below the level of your waist as you swing forward. If you are right-handed, hold the ball with your right hand. If you are left-handed, hold the ball with your left hand. You may also take a step back with your dominant foot or bend slightly at the hips if this feels natural to you. If you are left-handed, twist the ball to the right as you bring it forward to pitch.
This segmental sequencing will ultimately result in the dynamic positioning of the hand for ball release. This topic has been causing frustration and controversy among windmill pitchers, softball coaches, parents, and probably umpires for years. MANY pitchers—even many elite pitchers, some of whom you may have seen on television—do it, yet it’s illegal according to the rules of fastpitch softball. Over the next two posts, I’m going to talk a bit about what crow hopping is, what causes it, and how to fix it. The stride itself refers to the step that pitchers take with their glove foot.
When the athlete is performing other conditioning exercises, the athlete should maintain a pelvic neutral position. Pelvic neutral is the natural anatomical positioning of the pelvis. To obtain pelvic neutral, the abdominal muscles must be activated so that the pelvis is in line with the spine. Instructing the athlete to draw in her stomach and stand up straight will allow her to feel the position of pelvic neutral. The pitcher should be 25 – 35 feet from the catcher, depending on age and level.
Attending the NFCA annual convention and taking the Advanced Analysis of Pitching classeshave had a vital impact, not just on what we teach, but also, how we teach pitching. “Breaking The Yips Cycle” is a complete brain dump of the TOP Eight mental training sessions I do with my personal coaching students to help them overcome the yips and play with freedom again. The cycle makes it hard to regain any confidence in your throwing or pitching.