By Marc Dagenais
In softball, it is the job of the defensive team to force the offensive team to commit errors. It's the role of the pitcher and the catcher to prevent the batter from hitting the ball, the basemen to protect the bases, and the outfielders to catch balls the come to their direction.
Therefore, it would be a huge mistake for defensive players to allow the offense to turn the tables on them, and forcing the defense to commit errors.
Since the pitcher plays a huge role in defense along with the catcher, she must keep errors on her part to a minimum. Doing that would increase her team's chances of winning the game.
Here are some softball pitching tips I have for you to prevent the common errors most pitchers make.
Pitching with the Arm
At first glance, it looks as if most of the pitching motion and accuracy depends on the arm. After all, how strong the pitch is depends on the power the pitcher's arm can deliver.
But the truth is that the pitching motion begins with the legs, connects to the hips and simply culminates with the release of the ball from the hand.
That's why I recommend that you get a total training if you want to become a good pitcher. Focus on how you can improve your balance and motion with your legs and hips, as much as you would go to the gym and strengthen your arm muscles.
Pitching with a Straight Arm
Pitching with a straight arm seems like a logical idea when it comes to pitching. It's probably good if it's how you throw the ball naturally. Otherwise, I would recommend a whipping motion to enable you to throw your pitch much efficiently.
Not Giving Enough Time to Develop Your Pitch
It's fantastic if your team has a training coach that will help you improve your pitching. And it's even better if you can invest on hiring a personal training coach who can give you more personalized advice when it comes to your game.
However, it's easy to treat these options as a crutch and expect yourself to become a fantastic pitcher in just several sessions.
The truth of the matter is that it takes a lot of time for you to totally develop your pitching skills. Some young players may not show a lot of promise at the beginning, only to develop their skills by the time they're in their teens.
What I'm getting at here is that you should persist if you really want to be a good pitcher. Develop your mechanics, strengthen the muscles that you use for pitching, and put your own personal stamp on pitching that batters won't be able to read easy.
These things take time. But when you fully develop your pitching skills, the rewards are fantastic.
Now that you know what some of the softball pitching errors you should avoid, why don't you try it out for yourself and apply what you've just read here?
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Excellent Drills For Softball Pitching
By Marc Dagenais
It is known to every pitcher that a good hitter won't able to beat a good pitcher. Softball pitching is one of the most difficult positions in a softball game. It is a skill that needs your intense thinking to what would be the best strategy to use while keeping yourself in concentration inside the diamond. It is a must that if you desire to be good pitcher, you should know what are the drills to use in order to improve your pitching skills.
Excellent softball pitching is not innate in us, it is being developed! Why have your drills? First, it is to identify the key parts of motion so that you can concentrate on it. This will also speed up your learning. Second, drill makes you repeat your movement per time. With this kind of training, you would be able to master the pitching mechanics. It is a must that you should get the correct form so as to perfect it.
Here are some of those drills that you can use in perfecting that excellent pitch.
1. Static pitching - you will throw the ball so a catcher should stand by. You should be facing the catcher about 8 to 10 meters (24 to 30 feet) in distance. Throw the ball in windmill motion while the feet remains steady or stay in place. Rotate your body in full motion. You may start at easy pace. Just add more speed gradually as you become comfortable with your motion. This drill promotes upper body rotation increase your pitching power.
2. Dry Pitching - you may begin with the typical pitching position, long step forward, and stride foot in front of pivot foot. At a rate of 1minute per second. Pitch your arm in continuous full circles. You should aim your rounding circles with your target, with your arms close to head at top. Arm must meet your hips at point of release on each repetition. This drill is designed develop a perfect circle and to promote arm-hip coordination.
3. Pendulum drill - begin with a long step forward, with your foot in a stride position in front of your pivot foot. Your pitching hand should be at the top of the down-swing, or half back of the circle. Put your pitching arm down to the release point and hold it tight against body for a second. The weight should be at your back foot. Finish the movement by forcing the body and hips forward by pushing hard with your pivot foot. As your movement becomes natural, allow your arm to swing right through without pausing. Just ensure that the arm continues to brush your hip each time you do it. This drill will improve your throwing skills with your whole body working, not just with your arms.
These are just some of those many softball pitching drills that you can use in order to improve your pitching skills. By continue doing those drill and research some more will guarantee you a best form in doing your softball pitching.
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and teams hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, become mentally tougher, and be more dominant on the softball field. Visit us and sign-up to get tons of great FREE softball pitching tips to boost your game!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
It is known to every pitcher that a good hitter won't able to beat a good pitcher. Softball pitching is one of the most difficult positions in a softball game. It is a skill that needs your intense thinking to what would be the best strategy to use while keeping yourself in concentration inside the diamond. It is a must that if you desire to be good pitcher, you should know what are the drills to use in order to improve your pitching skills.
Excellent softball pitching is not innate in us, it is being developed! Why have your drills? First, it is to identify the key parts of motion so that you can concentrate on it. This will also speed up your learning. Second, drill makes you repeat your movement per time. With this kind of training, you would be able to master the pitching mechanics. It is a must that you should get the correct form so as to perfect it.
Here are some of those drills that you can use in perfecting that excellent pitch.
1. Static pitching - you will throw the ball so a catcher should stand by. You should be facing the catcher about 8 to 10 meters (24 to 30 feet) in distance. Throw the ball in windmill motion while the feet remains steady or stay in place. Rotate your body in full motion. You may start at easy pace. Just add more speed gradually as you become comfortable with your motion. This drill promotes upper body rotation increase your pitching power.
2. Dry Pitching - you may begin with the typical pitching position, long step forward, and stride foot in front of pivot foot. At a rate of 1minute per second. Pitch your arm in continuous full circles. You should aim your rounding circles with your target, with your arms close to head at top. Arm must meet your hips at point of release on each repetition. This drill is designed develop a perfect circle and to promote arm-hip coordination.
3. Pendulum drill - begin with a long step forward, with your foot in a stride position in front of your pivot foot. Your pitching hand should be at the top of the down-swing, or half back of the circle. Put your pitching arm down to the release point and hold it tight against body for a second. The weight should be at your back foot. Finish the movement by forcing the body and hips forward by pushing hard with your pivot foot. As your movement becomes natural, allow your arm to swing right through without pausing. Just ensure that the arm continues to brush your hip each time you do it. This drill will improve your throwing skills with your whole body working, not just with your arms.
These are just some of those many softball pitching drills that you can use in order to improve your pitching skills. By continue doing those drill and research some more will guarantee you a best form in doing your softball pitching.
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and teams hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, become mentally tougher, and be more dominant on the softball field. Visit us and sign-up to get tons of great FREE softball pitching tips to boost your game!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Softball Pitching - The Four Mechanics
By Marc Dagenais
It is very vital for softball pitchers to know and breathe the basics. One cannot perform at his or her best in fastpitch softball if he or she does not know or is not adept with the basics of softball pitching.
There are four mechanics which is essential when it comes to the effective execution of every single softball pitch:
The Stride
The stride should at all times be taken with the pitching hand opposite the foot. The distance is individual but it should be a long walking step. Balance is everything when it comes to looking for the perfect stride. So find where you are most comfortable, balanced, and energized.
The Arm Circle
The arms of the pitcher must be fully relaxed. The circle must be a complete rotation and must be at the same direction as the force. Rotate the pitching arm in a clockwise motion. As the ball is released, the pitching must be quite close to the body particularly the hips.
The Hip Thrust
The hip thrust is said to be the hardest of the four mechanics because it involves the simultaneous use of the hips and the pitching hand... At the point of release, the hips should move forward in order to add some more force and momentum in the pitch. Keep the weight back and push with the pivot foot to achieve this.
The Follow Through
After the ball has been released, the arm should continue to about eye or should level then stop. The pivot foot continues to move forward and ends up being planted on the side to give the softball pitcher his or her balance.
Those are the four basic softball pitching mechanics that every softball pitcher should know. With the knowledge of these four, you can most certainly perform at your peak in softball pitching.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
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