Softball Pitching - Steps to Becoming a Successful Pitcher

Softball Pitching - Steps to Becoming a Successful Pitcher
By Becky Wittenburg

Many girls have the potential to succeed as softball pitchers. However, developing the right skills is a slow and challenging process, and it is easy for players to become discouraged. In order for a beginning player to make it as a pitcher, she needs to have the patience to spend months and maybe years honing her skills.

The following plan breaks down the steps necessary to develop a beginning pitcher. Coaches should remember to take it slow and provide positive encouragement.

Step 1: Mechanics

A player should remember to:


Start with a relaxed upper body
Lean the body forward and push off the rubber for good speed
Open the body - toward third base if right-handed - as she begins the rotation
The arm circle should be fast, smooth, and consistent with the arm straight
Keep the stride straight toward home plate and land with her stride foot turned at a slight angle
Close the body as she nears the release point by turning toward the catcher, starting with the shoulder
Keep the wrist slightly bent as she nears the release point and snap it forward as she releases the ball
Have a loose and natural follow through after the release

Step 2: Speed

Softball pitching requires proper mechanics, but after that is mastered, a player should be able to increase speed over time without having to worry about maintaining control. Focus on keeping mechanics smooth and gradually work on throwing harder over time.

Step 3: Accuracy

After a few months of focusing on mechanics and speed, a pitcher should start working on controlling the location of the pitch. Over time, she should be able to pitch into any of the four corners (low-outside, low-inside, high-inside, and high-outside) so accurately she will not have to throw down the middle.

Step 4: Change-Up

With mechanics, speed, and accuracy under control, a pitcher can now develop pitches other than her fastball. Her change-up should be around 30% slower than her fastball. Her approach can utilize any number of techniques, including:


adjusting the wrist snap
flipping the ball out
following through low and toward the catcher
moving the ball back in the palm

One important thing to keep in mind is that the hitter should have no indication of a change-up.

Once a pitcher has mastered these steps, she can move on to developing additional pitches, like the drop ball, screw ball, and rise ball.

And if you'd like to see more free softball drills and coaching tips, go here to watch a free video:

http://www.softball-spot.com/vid/
Becky Wittenburg is a kids softball coach, and the owner and publisher of Softball-Spot.com, the web's #1 resource for softball drills, tips, and practice ideas for youth and high school coaches.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg

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