I just got my hands on a very interesting article that deals with overuse injures of softball pitchers. It was published in Training and Conditioning Magazine a few weeks ago. This is the official professional magazines of athletic trainers. These are the people that works with sports teams and take care of injured athletes.
Colleagues of mine who works with the Montreal Canadiens NHL Ice Hockey Club gave me a copy of the article.
The information presented is very important so I thought I would share with you the key messages contained in the article.
Here are the key messages:
- We assume that softball pitchers didn't have to worry about overuse injuries. That's not true.
- Recent studies have shown that the forces produces by the windmill pitching motion is similar to the baseball pitching motion and does take a toll on a softball pitcher's arm.
- Many studies conducted in the last few years have revealed that softball pitchers are subject to a high incidence of overuse injuries.
- Two main causes of chronic injuries in softball pitchers: poor mechanics and overuse. It's totally possible for a pitcher to never get injured if you do three things: (1) teach them proper pitching mechanics , (2) manage their use (pitching time) and recovery and (3) complete injury prevention training through softball-specific conditioning.
- Poor pitching mechanics can lead to injury even at young age.
- First thing you should work on with pitchers is to make a perfect circle with proper shoulder rotation. Most injuries are caused by an improper circle.
- Improper hip rotation has been shown to be another common cause of injury. The biggest flaw seen in pitchers is how their hips move when they release the ball.
- Lack of follow-through is also an important source of the stress on the shoulder and can also injuries.You also have to watch the follow-through on the various pitches as many causes very high levels of stress in the forearm, arm and shoulder.
- Another often overlooked factor is bad overhead throwing mechanics in pitchers - especially those playing another position. Often, this combines with a lot of underhand pitching leads to chronic injuries.
- You should keep count of pitches like they do in baseball. When reaching 100-120 pitches in a game, you should have your bullpen ready.
- You should NOT throw every day (practices or games). You should give at least a day or two off after a big weekend or a lot of pitching on the weekends.
- You should NOT overuse a pitcher every weekend (like pitching 3-4 games in a weekend). It's ok once or twice a year but doing it consistently will quickly wear down the shoulders and you are asking for trouble down the road.
- You also have to be careful with athletes playing other sports like volleyball or tennis for example where there is a lot of overhead motions. If this is the case, you should consider limiting the amount of pitching a bit to prevent injuries.
- Common overuse injuries in pitchers are in the rotator cuff and in the biceps.
- Signs and symptoms of overuse injuries: nagging pain, fatigue, decreased performance, change in mechanics, loss of velocity or control and changed in pitcher's attitude.
- Commonly diagnosed injuries: biceps tendonitis, rotator cuff strains, impingement syndrome (inflammation of rotator cuff tendons). Overuse injuries can also affect the lower back and the knees.
- You should differentiates normal soreness (temporary stiffness from doing work) and bad soreness (pain) that causes discomfort. Watch for pitchers' body language or facial expressions - these are good indicators of discomfort or injuries. Many athletes don't want to tell their coach because they don't want to be taken out of the line-up.
- Main treatment for overuse injuries: rest and proper treatment. if it is minor enough and you are in the middle of the season, just cut down on pitches and provide plenty of rest. You should also ice after every game or pitching practice.
- The use of anti-inflammatories is also recommended but should be done under the supervision a qualified medical professional.
- Doing exercises in a pool is recommended for good shoulder conditioning or rehab (make sure not to do too much swimming as it is hard on the shoulders).
- Massage is another element that can be integrated in a treatment or injury prevention plan. Make sure you work with a qualified and registered massage therapist. They can improve circulation, re-align the tissue, and enhance muscular relaxation, which promotes healing.
- Strength training is very important in preventing softball pitching injuries.
- Training the core is very important. The core is the lower part of the trunk musculature (hips, buttocks, abdominal, obliques, lower back, etc.). Lack of strength and flexibility in the core
often results in over-compensating and injuries show up elsewhere like in the shoulder.
- Almost every softball athlete has a deficient core.
- Single leg work help make pitchers stronger and is very sport- specific. Doing body-weight deadlifts with one leg, single-leg squats, and that type of exercises is highly beneficial.
- Tubing exercises is also very beneficial for strengthening the shoulder.
- Explosive strength is also something pitchers should work on because from the start of the pitching motion to release takes less than a second.
- Work with overweighted and underweighted balls is beneficial for injury prevention and gaining speed.
- There are traditional exercises you should avoid like overhead lifts. They are not really recommended for pitchers. Also, there should be less emphasis on bench press (don't eliminate entirely but do much less of it). There should be more focus on body- weight push-up variations.
- You should focus more on pulling exercises and do less pushing exercises (do more rows and less presses).
- References used for this articles can be found at: www.athleticsearch.com/softrefs
What I think
WOW.. that's a lot of powerful information. I agree 100% with everything in this article because I have been preaching a lot of it for years!
I have seen too many dominating young pitchers just disappear of the circulation due to overuse injuries. It starts slowly and over a few years, they completely disappear because they can't pitch anymore. I am sure you have seen plenty of those cases too.
I really want you to take action and think on the long-term health of yourself (if you are a pitcher) or your pitchers (coach or parents). There is no point at over-utilizing a pitcher if she won't be able to compete down the road due to overuse injuries.
Marc Dagenais
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players and teams hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, become mentally tougher and be more dominant on the softball field.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/marc-dagenais/106433
Showing posts with label Softball Pitching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Softball Pitching. Show all posts
Monday, July 15, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers: Softball pitching tips with Amanda Scarborough
Former Texas A&M All-American softball pitcher Amanda Scarborough breaks down the fundamentals of several different softball pitches. For more info, visit Former Texas A&M All-American softball pitcher Amanda Scarborough breaks down the fundamentals of several different softball pitches. For more info, visit softball.com and Amanda9.com. and Amanda9.com.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Softball Pitching - How to Easily Get 80% of Batters Out
By Marc Dagenais
I've coached at pretty much all levels of the game going from rec 8U to college and international softball in the as 20 years. I've coached and watched a lot of softball games in my life. A couple of years ago, I even spent an entire summer scouting (charting pitches, identifying pitching patterns, measuring speed, etc.) and filming the best pitchers in the world (Finch, Roche, Ueno, Fernandez, etc.) for the Canadian Women's National Team. One thing that seems to be consistent across all levels is the difficulty that the majority of batters have hitting the low inside and outside pitches. At the younger levels (not talking about 18U Gold or college ball), I strongly believe that if a pitcher keeps the ball low most of the time and throws strikes on the low corners (even only using a fastball), she can get easily 80% of the batters out.
Do you know many teams that carry a lot of hitters able to consistently hit rockets out of low inside or outside pitches? I don't. Most teams may have one or two such hitters - maybe three if they are lucky. Hitting a low inside or outside pitch (even if it is a strike) solidly is tough and challenging! As you know, I strongly believe in shifting the odds in your favor. Think about this for a second. Most hitters fail at least 70% of the time less than 300 batting average at the plate. The same hitters probably fail at least 85% of the time on low inside or outside pitches for strikes. What are the odds that 2 or even 3 hitters will line up several hits in a row to score a run if you keep the ball low, throw strikes and avoid giving up walks? The odds are very low - especially if your defense can do the job of getting the batters out on easy grounders or lazy pop-ups.
Bottom line - there are two things I want to emphasize:
1) Keep the ball low on the corners. Throw most of them for strikes.
2) Practice keeping the ball low.
Unless you are practicing a rise or a high pitch on purpose, everything you throw even in a warm-up should always be BELOW the waist (and knee-high ideally). I see a lot of pitchers who warm-up and keep throwing everything high until they get in their full motion. That's a mistake. Why so? Because you're training the habit of throwing the ball high. Pitching is a matter of timing and consistency of release point. Start right away learning to throw strikes low inside or outside consistently on each pitch - even in the warm-up. To go a step further, I would probably ban anything that is above the waist - unless it was meant when working with younger pitchers! Just doing this will quickly help you get most of the batters out! Imagine when you start mixing them up with change-ups and other moving pitches in addition to keeping the ball low, you can become very effective pitchers even if you don't throw that hard!
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and teams hit with more power and be more dominant on the softball field. To get tons of great FREE softball drills to boost your game, visit us at: http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-drills
I've coached at pretty much all levels of the game going from rec 8U to college and international softball in the as 20 years. I've coached and watched a lot of softball games in my life. A couple of years ago, I even spent an entire summer scouting (charting pitches, identifying pitching patterns, measuring speed, etc.) and filming the best pitchers in the world (Finch, Roche, Ueno, Fernandez, etc.) for the Canadian Women's National Team. One thing that seems to be consistent across all levels is the difficulty that the majority of batters have hitting the low inside and outside pitches. At the younger levels (not talking about 18U Gold or college ball), I strongly believe that if a pitcher keeps the ball low most of the time and throws strikes on the low corners (even only using a fastball), she can get easily 80% of the batters out.
Do you know many teams that carry a lot of hitters able to consistently hit rockets out of low inside or outside pitches? I don't. Most teams may have one or two such hitters - maybe three if they are lucky. Hitting a low inside or outside pitch (even if it is a strike) solidly is tough and challenging! As you know, I strongly believe in shifting the odds in your favor. Think about this for a second. Most hitters fail at least 70% of the time less than 300 batting average at the plate. The same hitters probably fail at least 85% of the time on low inside or outside pitches for strikes. What are the odds that 2 or even 3 hitters will line up several hits in a row to score a run if you keep the ball low, throw strikes and avoid giving up walks? The odds are very low - especially if your defense can do the job of getting the batters out on easy grounders or lazy pop-ups.
Bottom line - there are two things I want to emphasize:
1) Keep the ball low on the corners. Throw most of them for strikes.
2) Practice keeping the ball low.
Unless you are practicing a rise or a high pitch on purpose, everything you throw even in a warm-up should always be BELOW the waist (and knee-high ideally). I see a lot of pitchers who warm-up and keep throwing everything high until they get in their full motion. That's a mistake. Why so? Because you're training the habit of throwing the ball high. Pitching is a matter of timing and consistency of release point. Start right away learning to throw strikes low inside or outside consistently on each pitch - even in the warm-up. To go a step further, I would probably ban anything that is above the waist - unless it was meant when working with younger pitchers! Just doing this will quickly help you get most of the batters out! Imagine when you start mixing them up with change-ups and other moving pitches in addition to keeping the ball low, you can become very effective pitchers even if you don't throw that hard!
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and teams hit with more power and be more dominant on the softball field. To get tons of great FREE softball drills to boost your game, visit us at: http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-drills
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Softball Pitching - 4 Steps To Great Mechanics
By Becky Wittenburg
Because softball pitching requires one fluid motion, it is difficult to coach it in terms of fundamentals. However, pitchers need to understand the proper mechanics in order to develop their pitching skills. If a pitcher is struggling with her delivery, then breaking the pitching motion down into its fundamental elements will help isolate and fix the problem. The following tips will help coaches and pitchers establish a firm pitching foundation.
The Windmill Method
The most popular delivery in fastpitch softball is currently the windmill method. In this underhand pitch, the pitcher's arm starts in front of her body, winds back, completes a full circle, releases the ball at the hip, and then follows through.
The windmill is more than just an arm motion, however; it requires a long stride that utilizes the legs and torso to generate more power. Both speed and the shift of weight play an important part in executing the windmill effectively, so pitchers should practice the motion to develop a comfortable rhythm. Maximum velocity and accuracy will only occur if all of the movements are in sync.
The Fundamentals: Grip
In fastpitch softball pitching, the grip on the ball depends on the type of pitch being thrown. How the pitcher holds the ball will direct the rotation of the ball and the way the wind interacts with the seams, which will in turn determine how fast the ball travels. For example, to throw a four-seam fastball, the pitcher will hold the ball so the laces form a letter "C," then place her fingers across the "C." For a two-seam fastball, the pitcher will hold the ball so the laces form a "U." Her pointer and ring fingers will each rest along a seam and the middle finger will go in between the seams.
With either delivery, the middle three fingers will be on top of the ball, with the pinkie tucked underneath and the thumb on the side of the ball. The ball should be held securely in the fingers, not against the palm of the hand.
The Fundamentals: Stance
A pitcher's stance is the position she assumes before beginning her wind-up. It can vary from pitcher to pitcher, but a player should have a basic stance that is consistent and comfortable for her.
She should begin by holding the ball in her glove and standing up straight at the pitcher's mound. Her lead foot, or throwing-side foot, should be on the rubber with the toes extended over the front edge. The rear foot toes should touch the back of the rubber. Her front leg should be straight while the back leg is slightly bent, and the feet should be just a little closer than shoulder-width apart. The pitcher should square her shoulders toward home plate, keeping her weight on the balls of her feet.
At this point in a game, the pitcher would look to the catcher for the signal while slightly shifting her weight forward. She would then visualize her pitch, take a deep breath, and begin her wind-up.
Completing the Pitch
In order to properly execute the pitch, the pitcher needs to develop her wind-up, stride, arm movement, and follow-through. Once she is comfortable with her grip and stance, continue the pitching lesson by introducing the pitching motion. Players often become overwhelmed at first, but by starting with the basics, coaches can guarantee understanding before moving on to developing more advanced skills, like an effective change-up.
And if you'd like to see more free softball pitching drills and coaching tips, go here to watch a free video:
http://www.softball-spot.com
Becky Wittenburg is a softball coach, and the owner and publisher of Softball-Spot.com, the web's #1 resource for softball pitching drills, tips, and practice ideas for youth and high school coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6231786
Because softball pitching requires one fluid motion, it is difficult to coach it in terms of fundamentals. However, pitchers need to understand the proper mechanics in order to develop their pitching skills. If a pitcher is struggling with her delivery, then breaking the pitching motion down into its fundamental elements will help isolate and fix the problem. The following tips will help coaches and pitchers establish a firm pitching foundation.
The Windmill Method
The most popular delivery in fastpitch softball is currently the windmill method. In this underhand pitch, the pitcher's arm starts in front of her body, winds back, completes a full circle, releases the ball at the hip, and then follows through.
The windmill is more than just an arm motion, however; it requires a long stride that utilizes the legs and torso to generate more power. Both speed and the shift of weight play an important part in executing the windmill effectively, so pitchers should practice the motion to develop a comfortable rhythm. Maximum velocity and accuracy will only occur if all of the movements are in sync.
The Fundamentals: Grip
In fastpitch softball pitching, the grip on the ball depends on the type of pitch being thrown. How the pitcher holds the ball will direct the rotation of the ball and the way the wind interacts with the seams, which will in turn determine how fast the ball travels. For example, to throw a four-seam fastball, the pitcher will hold the ball so the laces form a letter "C," then place her fingers across the "C." For a two-seam fastball, the pitcher will hold the ball so the laces form a "U." Her pointer and ring fingers will each rest along a seam and the middle finger will go in between the seams.
With either delivery, the middle three fingers will be on top of the ball, with the pinkie tucked underneath and the thumb on the side of the ball. The ball should be held securely in the fingers, not against the palm of the hand.
The Fundamentals: Stance
A pitcher's stance is the position she assumes before beginning her wind-up. It can vary from pitcher to pitcher, but a player should have a basic stance that is consistent and comfortable for her.
She should begin by holding the ball in her glove and standing up straight at the pitcher's mound. Her lead foot, or throwing-side foot, should be on the rubber with the toes extended over the front edge. The rear foot toes should touch the back of the rubber. Her front leg should be straight while the back leg is slightly bent, and the feet should be just a little closer than shoulder-width apart. The pitcher should square her shoulders toward home plate, keeping her weight on the balls of her feet.
At this point in a game, the pitcher would look to the catcher for the signal while slightly shifting her weight forward. She would then visualize her pitch, take a deep breath, and begin her wind-up.
Completing the Pitch
In order to properly execute the pitch, the pitcher needs to develop her wind-up, stride, arm movement, and follow-through. Once she is comfortable with her grip and stance, continue the pitching lesson by introducing the pitching motion. Players often become overwhelmed at first, but by starting with the basics, coaches can guarantee understanding before moving on to developing more advanced skills, like an effective change-up.
And if you'd like to see more free softball pitching drills and coaching tips, go here to watch a free video:
http://www.softball-spot.com
Becky Wittenburg is a softball coach, and the owner and publisher of Softball-Spot.com, the web's #1 resource for softball pitching drills, tips, and practice ideas for youth and high school coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6231786
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Softball Pitching Tips and Drills - Increase Speed Video
http://www.mavenvideo.com - Softball pitching drills and tips on how to increase pitching speed with Ernie Parker
Monday, June 14, 2010
Softball Pitcher's Favorite Color - Blue?
"Practice Pitch" Softball Trainer at SoftballrUs.com
Softball Pitching Tips
By Brad Henks
That may be my favorite color but it may not be a fastpitch softball pitcher's favorite color. After all, that's the color of the umpire uniform. You know, we all call them "hey blue".
As a softball pitcher you need to at least try to make the umpire think that is your favorite color. You definitely don't ever want to put an umpire on display in front of the whole ball park by letting her know you are upset about a pitch call. Just put the ball back in your fastpitch glove and head back to the circle.
Fastpitch softball pitching requires you to cleverly use your mind as well as your body when a questionable pitch call comes into play. Don't glare at them for several seconds or stomp around the mound between pitches.
Umpires are people just like we are. They are out there doing a job to allow us to play this game. You wouldn't like to be shown up in front of the whole crowd now would you?
If you use bad judgement and glare down the umpire you will likely not get any more close strikes called the rest of the day. Treat your umpire with respect. If you think the call was bad, give him a very quick glance and then turn away. Don't stare, make it only about a half second or less. Just long enough for her to know you didn't like that call.
Another way is to politely ask where that pitch was. Wait until the play is over, politely ask "hey blue - where did I miss on that pitch?" Then tell him Thanks. You have to be very polite or it could come out sounding like you are chastising the umpire. You don't want that.
Remember, as a fastpitch softball pitcher you are trying to Not put the softball over the plate anyway, just close enough to make it look like a strike. So maybe that pitch was close but not quite close enough in the umpire's view. Tell yourself that you will get the next one and go on.
As mentioned above, umpires are out on the fastpitch softball field doing a job that allows you to pitch softball. So be greateful. Be sure to tell the umpire if you think he made a good call in the field. Maybe it was a close call sliding under the third base glove. Those are tough calls, let the umpires know you appreciate the job he is doing. Politics in fastpitch softball can be a good thing.
We have all seen the prima donna pitcher that misses outside and stomps around, cusses and raises her arms in disgust. Don't be that pitcher.
Be the fastpitch softball pitcher that the umpire respects. She will tell other coaches and umpires about you. What she tells about you is determined by your actions. Give the umpire good stories to tell about you.
Make Blue your new favorite color!
Talk about Fastpitch Softball over at http://FastpitchSoftballTalk.blogspot.com/
The author is a fastpitch softball enthusiast and has been involved in fastpitch softball and baseball for 20 years as a parent and coach. For more information please visit http://www.BuyFastpitchGloves.com for some of the best fastpitch softball gloves and related accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Henks
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Softball Practice Drills
Softball Practice Drills
By Marc Dagenais
The following softball practice drills are a means of getting your softball game to the next level. By using these drills to improve your game, you will reach another level you thought you weren't able too before. The following drills should be covered in practice to ensure that you become as skilled a player as possible.
Drill 1 - All Out (Softball Catching)
Purpose: To practice going all out on the dive.
Procedure: A fielder faces a tosser 20 to 30 feet away. The first throw is over or to the side of the fielder's head. The fielder catches the ball and makes a good throw to the tosser. The fielder then runs hard toward the tosser, who flips a soft toss that the fielder must dive for to catch. The fielder goes to the end of the line to wait for her next turn.
Drill 2 - Three Points (Softball Pitching)
Purpose: To create competition and pressure for the pitcher when pitching to a catcher's targets.
Procedure: The catcher gives a target, and for advanced players she may call a pitch. If the pitcher hits the target, she gets one point. If she misses, she loses a point. When the pitcher reaches three points, the game is over. Add difficulty by requiring every fourth pitch to be a change-up.
Drill 3 - Random Ball Conditioning (Softball Catchers)
Purpose: To practice throws to bases and improve conditioning.
Procedure: Randomly place six to eight balls in front of home. From the squat position the catcher explodes and throws to a receiver at the base, hustles back into catching position, and continues until all of the balls have been thrown. Repeat the drill with the catcher throwing to a different base.
Drill 4 - Thunderstick (Softball Hitting)
Purpose: To learn to see the ball better at contact.
Procedure: Using a very narrow bat for hitting and bunting forces the batter to look intently at the ball at contact. To make to bats to use with baseball and golf-size Wiffles, cut broomsticks or doweling to bat size and tape the handles. Use the thunderstick to hit or bunt Wiffles off a soft toss.
Drill 5 - Slap and Run Around Cone (Softball Slap Hitting)
Purpose: To practice running toward the pitcher when slapping.
Procedure: The slapper hits off a pitcher or machine. Place a cone two steps in front of the batter's box in line with the pitcher. The slapper must run around the cone before heading toward first base. The cone prevents the slapper from turning too early toward first.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog
He also 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. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html - Go Sign-up Now!
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!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
5 Softball Pitching Drills
By Marc Dagenais
Drill 1: Fast and Slow
Purpose: To practice changing speeds.
Procedure: Working with her catcher, the pitcher alternates fast and off-speed pitches. The goal is to keep the delivery the same.
Drill 2: Football Toss
Purpose: To develop correct rise-ball release.
Procedure: The pitcher throws a junior-sized football underhand to a partner. Grip it along the seam with all the fingers and with the thumb on the opposite side. The ball should spiral. If it wobbles in flight, the palm has turned toward the catcher at release.
Drill 3: Four-Corner Control
Purpose: To develop control and accuracy.
Procedure: The pitcher throws to the extreme four corners of the strike zone. When she achieves accuracy at one spot, she moves the target to the next corner. A catcher or a target on the wall can be used. To adjust for the in and out targets, the pitcher must adjust her body angle from her normal stance. She turns the toe on the rubber about a half inch in or out from the position she used to throw to the middle of the plate.
Drill 4: Wrist Snap Behind Back
Purpose: To develop the wrist snap by isolating the wrist, which prevents the pitcher from using the elbow to snap the ball.
Procedure: The pitcher stands sideways 5 to 10 feet from the catcher or a wall. The glove side faces the target, and the ball is behind the back. The pitcher flips the ball by snapping the wrist.
Drill 5: Oversized and Undersized Ball Spins
Purpose: To make the pitcher practice throwing a riseball.
Procedure: Using a baseball or an 11-inch ball may help the pitcher make the correct movements to get underneath the ball. The smaller the size of the ball allows the fingers to be more flexible and allows the correct movements to occur with less effort. A pitcher can use an undersized ball when initially trying to create muscle memory for the correct spin movements. An oversized ball is helpful in speeding up the wrist snap because the hand must pass under more area in the same amount of time. The oversized ball can also illustrate the spin to a pitcher who may be struggling with the backward concept. A 14-inch ball seems to be the perfect size because the pitcher can hold on to it comfortably throughout the circle before snapping the wrist at release. The routine used with these balls can mirror the routing used with the Spinner-starting close up without the circle and adding distance as well as the full circle.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog
He also 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. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
---SoftballCoachingDigest.com
---Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
---Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
---Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
---Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
---The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Fastpitch Softball Pitching Takes a Lot of Work
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
By Gregory Covey
Fastpitch softball pitching is much harder than people think. Proper mechanics will make all the difference in the world for accuracy and speed. It must be a natural motion.
My daughter has been a softball pitcher since she first began the game. She has progressed each year but it has not come without a lot of time and effort.
When I talk about mechanics I am speaking about the motion the softball pitcher will go through as they deliver the ball to the plate.
There are some different beliefs as to which motion works best but I will speak to the one she uses since I believe it has worked very well for her, while at the same time not doing any harm to her back, arm, or shoulder since she has been softball pitching.
I am speaking from the perspective of a right handed softball pitcher, since that is what she is.
The first and most important thing is to stand almost straight up with your right foot on the mound and the left foot just behind the mound.
Your left foot big toe should be at the heel of the right foot at shoulder width apart.
This particular element of the softball pitching delivery will save on your daughters back. Many softball pitchers will lean way forward as they prepare to deliver the softball. The pitcher should have their nose just behind their hip. Leaning forward does not help with speed or accuracy. It is simply a bad habit that needs to be corrected.
One law of physics is that any action will have an equal or opposite reaction.
So every motion that your daughter has in her delivery needs to be evaluated so that you are not making unnecessary motions.
The next motion should be to present the ball to the batter. This is in the ASA Softball rules.
Next she raises her hands together with the right hand holding the ball inside the glove hand as if she is praying. They are now up against her chest together.
Then she moves her arms straight out still holding the ball inside the glove hand. The hands are straight out in front at shoulder height. A good way to tell if she is doing this correctly is that it should be blocking her view of the batter and catcher.
Then she separates her hands as she swings them back directly in alignment so that both go just as far back behind her back and at about should height and width apart or so.
Once the right arm swings back completely and starts moving forward is when she should start to be moving forward and pushing off the mound. The legs are a huge part of the speed she will get from her pitch.
Then both arms come forward with the glove hand slowing down and staying out in front almost blocking the view of the batter and catcher again while the right arm keeps swinging around. A great way to know if things are going well to get the most speed from the pitch would be to see the right arm behind at the same height of the left arm in front.
As the right arm continues around she should be pushing hard forward off the mound while stretching out her left leg and foot directly toward the plate. Remember in ASA softball rules a softball pitcher's right foot (if they are a right handed pitcher) can't leave the ground.
One thing to keep in mind is that the left foot as she is stretching out toward the plate should not be pointing up. If you are standing at the plate and you can see the bottom of her foot the left leg is coming to high off the ground in her stretching motion. This is wasting effort that will cost her in her softball pitching speed. Teach her to point her toe toward the batter and this should stop this habit.
The left leg and foot should be planted just as her arm is at her hip. This will cause a tremendous amount of force to be stopped and this is what creates the most speed of all. That sudden stop as she is delivering the ball is a mighty force.
The drag foot should create an opposite question mark like design on the ground behind her. If it is more like a check mark then she is wasting motion and her pitch will slow down. This will also be hard on her body.
I hope this was of some help.
May God Bless You and good luck!
Follow my daughter's softball career on my blog where I discuss the ups and downs that are sometimes embarrassing. Go to Playing Softball.
You can visit my blog where I talk about being a parent and all the struggles we as parents go through. My wife and I have four children and have been married for over 25 years, so we have some experiences to share.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Covey
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!
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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