Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers: fast pitch pitching

Showing posts with label fast pitch pitching. Show all posts

Thursday, June 2, 2011

A Fast Pitch Pitching Drill

A Fast Pitch Pitching Drill
By guest author: J Cox

An Important Pitching Drill: One Knee Pitching

The pitcher on the softball field is the most important player. No other player has the power to influence the game the way the pitcher does. In order for the pitcher to be effective, there are many little things she must do well. To help her perfect all these little things, there are many different pitching drills she should perform regularly. One of the most important pitching drills is the "One Knee Pitching" drill.

One knee pitching is performed exactly how you would think it would be done, with the pitcher on one knee. The pitcher will actually kneel on the knee that is on the same side as her pitching arm. She will be about 15 to 20 feet away from the catcher. There should be a line on the ground that extends from the pitcher toward the catcher. The pitchers other foot (on the glove side) should be placed on that line. That leg should be slightly bent. By being on one knee the pitcher will have a steady lower part of the body and will be able to focus on her upper body and the mechanics for pitching.

To begin the softball pitching drill, the pitcher should have her glove and pitching hand (holding the ball) down beside the leg she is kneeling on (her pitching leg). Both of the pitchers hands should stay together as she completes the first quarter of her arm circle. Then she should continue with her motion making sure to come through and stay with the straight line. That's the point of the drill; staying within the line. Throwing balls and strikes isn't important.

During this pitching drill the pitcher must be sure to keep her balance at all times. She can't allow her back to arch backward or her shoulders to fall forward. Also, she can't let her arm go behind her head as she is pitching. Finally, she has to make sure her arm finishes in line with the line that's extending toward the catcher. This point can't be stressed enough.

There are many great pitching drills that softball pitchers should do on a regular basis. One of the most important drills is "One Knee Pitching". This drill should be performed regularly in order to help the pitchers balance and to allow her to focus on her upper body. To be more specific, this pitching drill will help the pitcher with her arm circle, spacing, sequencing, release posture, and the follow through.

J Cox runs http://www.fastpitchsoftballbat.net The site tries to find bargains for the fastpitch fan. The site also has several other Fastpitch Softball Articles, an example is located at http://www.fastpitchsoftballbat.net/fastpitchbaserunning

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1326357

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

7 Tips to Improve Your Pitch

7 Tips to Improve Your Pitch
By Amber Cottrell

Working to excel at a sport takes a lot of time and committment. Certain aspects such as technique, form, and timing play important roles at improving your individual skills. Here are 7 easy ways to improve your softball pitch.

1. Foot Placement
The first step to a good softball pitch is your foot placement on the rubber. Both of your feet must be placed on the rubber, and at a comfortable stance. It is important for your feet to not be too wide, because you need to be able to push-off of your plant/dominant foot to generate your power.

2. Wind Up
Many people think that your windup needs to be complicated, or fast to generate power, but it is smart to conserve your power during your wind up. This is simply used to get your arm circle into motion. A nice simple wind up not only saves you energy, but it also allows you to concentrate on the rest of your body.

3. Arm Circle
It is important, that when you start your arm circle, that it stays tight to your body. Your arm should also come straight back, because if your arm strays, then your follow through will probably do the same, making it harder for you to throw where you want to.

4. Arm Speed
Another aspect that goes along with your arm circle is your arm speed. Arm speed is crucial because the tighter and faster your arm speed is the more momentum you will gain, which will generate into a faster pitch.

5. Jump Off the Rubber
When your arm is coming around and you're ready to throw your pitch, you need to know how you will jump off the rubber. The more pressure you put on your plant foot (dominant foot) the harder you can push-off the rubber, which will give you more power behind the ball. This hard push-off the rubber will help you gain more speed behind your pitch.

6. Wrist Snap
Probably the most important part of your pitching technique is your wrist snap. Without snapping your wrist, your pitch will lack speed and power. The wrist snap also helps you be able to throw different pitches. It is important for pitchers to have strong wrists to gain more power, throw different pitches, and also guide the ball where they want it to go.

7. Follow Through
Your follow through will also vary with what type of pitch you want to throw. For a straight fast ball, it's important that your arm follow through straight up towards your face, as if you were trying to punch yourself in your chin. If your follow through doesn't stay straight, then the ball will not either. With other pitches such as your curve ball, you will want your follow through to curve across your body. If you are trying to throw a rise you will want to finish up high, and if you want to throw a drop you will want to finish down towards the ground. In general, your ball will end up wherever you follow through does.

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

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