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
Showing posts with label how to pitch a softball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to pitch a softball. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Friday, July 9, 2010
Pitching Grip - How to Throw a Curveball
Fastpitch Pitching Grip - How to Throw a Curveball Effectively
By Guest Author Dan Gazaway
When is the best time to throw the curve? When you are ahead of the count with one or two strikes on the batter or surprise the batter by throwing it your first pitch. I only recommend throwing the Curveball the first pitch if you have excellent command and can throw it for a strike. You always want to start the count in your favor.
You can throw the Curveball one of two ways as far as the location of the pitch is concerned. One, you can start the Curveball out in the strike zone and throw it into the dirt hoping the batter will fish for it. Or two, you can start it out as a ball and have it drop into the strike zone. If the batter doesn't swing, it is a strike, and if he does he misses it or grounds out. I prefer the ground out personally so I can throw fewer pitches per inning. When a starting pitcher performs, he should plan on throwing the whole game if he is on a five day rotation; first pitch ground outs are ideal for me.
Before we cover how to grip the Curveball, it is important to note that a pitcher should always pull the curve from his glove. This is important because it ensures that the wrist and forearm are aligned on each pitch for consistency. For example, while throwing a fastball a pitcher should bring his thumbs down, out of the glove so the ball ends up facing second base at the equal and opposite position. The Curveball should be pulled from the glove with the palm of your hand facing toward your body.
Curveball Grip
To grip the Curveball, place your index and ring finger on the seams opposite of the thumb. The thumb and middle finger should split the baseball in half. Apply some pressure on your thumb and middle fingers. Your index finger should simply rest on the ball next to the middle finger. I teach pitchers that are just learning this grip to slightly raise their index finger off the ball to ensure they don't apply pressure with it.
When throwing this pitch, make sure you maintain solid fastball mechanics. One, you don't want to tip the batter so he will know you are throwing something other than a fastball by changing mechanics. You also want to keep the same arm speed and arm angle with the curve. The only thing that changes is wrist and forearm angle. At release, avoid snapping your wrist. The ball rolls off your index finger while spinning the ball with your thumb and middle finger.
A fact about the Curveball: Hitters can hit a "good" Curveball, but they struggle hitting a "great" Curveball. A great Curveball deceives the batter and drops aggressively in the end. Keep practicing so that you will be one of the great Curveball pitchers.
Curveball tip #1: Ensure that your fastball mechanics are in order before learning a curve. Also, to make sure that the ball doesn't squirt on you, finish the pitch with your glove in front of you, not on the side of your body. Refer to your Pitching Mechanics DVD if you are not sure what we mean by that.
Curveball tip#2: Coaches and parents need to monitor how many Curveballs a young athlete throws, especially when the pitch really begins to work for him. Pitcher's who throw the curveball well and experience great success with it, tend to overuse the pitch. The ratio of pitches thrown should be 15-20% Curveballs regardless of how effective your curve is.
Dan Gazaway is owner and founder of The Pitching Academy in Utah. He has instructed over 1,000 students in the area of pitching mechanics and the mental aspect of competitive pitching. Coach Gazaway received his coaching certification through The National Pitching Association in San Diego. Dans latest projects include creating a Pitching Mechanics DVD and e-book and placing them on his Pitching Academy website. Coach Gazaway also instructs thousands of pitchers about proper pitching workouts which include pre-season training as well as pitching workouts relating to off-season conditioning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Gazaway
=======================================================
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BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
By Guest Author Dan Gazaway
When is the best time to throw the curve? When you are ahead of the count with one or two strikes on the batter or surprise the batter by throwing it your first pitch. I only recommend throwing the Curveball the first pitch if you have excellent command and can throw it for a strike. You always want to start the count in your favor.
You can throw the Curveball one of two ways as far as the location of the pitch is concerned. One, you can start the Curveball out in the strike zone and throw it into the dirt hoping the batter will fish for it. Or two, you can start it out as a ball and have it drop into the strike zone. If the batter doesn't swing, it is a strike, and if he does he misses it or grounds out. I prefer the ground out personally so I can throw fewer pitches per inning. When a starting pitcher performs, he should plan on throwing the whole game if he is on a five day rotation; first pitch ground outs are ideal for me.
Before we cover how to grip the Curveball, it is important to note that a pitcher should always pull the curve from his glove. This is important because it ensures that the wrist and forearm are aligned on each pitch for consistency. For example, while throwing a fastball a pitcher should bring his thumbs down, out of the glove so the ball ends up facing second base at the equal and opposite position. The Curveball should be pulled from the glove with the palm of your hand facing toward your body.
Curveball Grip
To grip the Curveball, place your index and ring finger on the seams opposite of the thumb. The thumb and middle finger should split the baseball in half. Apply some pressure on your thumb and middle fingers. Your index finger should simply rest on the ball next to the middle finger. I teach pitchers that are just learning this grip to slightly raise their index finger off the ball to ensure they don't apply pressure with it.
When throwing this pitch, make sure you maintain solid fastball mechanics. One, you don't want to tip the batter so he will know you are throwing something other than a fastball by changing mechanics. You also want to keep the same arm speed and arm angle with the curve. The only thing that changes is wrist and forearm angle. At release, avoid snapping your wrist. The ball rolls off your index finger while spinning the ball with your thumb and middle finger.
A fact about the Curveball: Hitters can hit a "good" Curveball, but they struggle hitting a "great" Curveball. A great Curveball deceives the batter and drops aggressively in the end. Keep practicing so that you will be one of the great Curveball pitchers.
Curveball tip #1: Ensure that your fastball mechanics are in order before learning a curve. Also, to make sure that the ball doesn't squirt on you, finish the pitch with your glove in front of you, not on the side of your body. Refer to your Pitching Mechanics DVD if you are not sure what we mean by that.
Curveball tip#2: Coaches and parents need to monitor how many Curveballs a young athlete throws, especially when the pitch really begins to work for him. Pitcher's who throw the curveball well and experience great success with it, tend to overuse the pitch. The ratio of pitches thrown should be 15-20% Curveballs regardless of how effective your curve is.
Dan Gazaway is owner and founder of The Pitching Academy in Utah. He has instructed over 1,000 students in the area of pitching mechanics and the mental aspect of competitive pitching. Coach Gazaway received his coaching certification through The National Pitching Association in San Diego. Dans latest projects include creating a Pitching Mechanics DVD and e-book and placing them on his Pitching Academy website. Coach Gazaway also instructs thousands of pitchers about proper pitching workouts which include pre-season training as well as pitching workouts relating to off-season conditioning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Gazaway
=======================================================
Thanks to our sponsors:
BattingCagesDirect.com
SoftballVideosOnline.com
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
SoftballrUs.com
Suggested links:
RottenSports.com
RottenCoaches.com
Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos,.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Fastpitch Softball Pitching Drills #401 Destroy The Batter's Timing
http://www.mavenvideo.com - Softball pitching drills and tips on how to create essential techniques for destroying the batter's timing and the drills and tips by coach Bob Todd. This video is a preview from his full DVD from mavenvideo The Change Up to be release in 2010.
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Check Out These Sites:
RottenSports.com
RottenCoaches.com
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WildSportsVideos,.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
Monday, February 15, 2010
Learn How to Pitch Faster and Smarter With These Fastpitch Softball Pitching Tips
Learn How to Pitch Faster and Smarter With These Fastpitch Softball Pitching Tips
By Marc Dagenais
So you want to pitch faster? You can choose to focus only on strengthening your muscles, or you can take a smarter option and take a complete approach to your pitching.
But before I get misunderstood, I'm not discounting the importance of strengthening your muscles to be able to pitch faster. What I'm saying is that it's not all there is to pitching. And becoming a smart pitcher means you can pitch more effectively with lesser effort.
Want to be a smart and efficient pitcher? Here are some tips I have for you:
1. Focus on the mechanics first. Many players focus too much on strength training to make them pitch faster. But nailing the mechanics before anything else should be your priority as a pitcher.
The proper pitching mechanics teaches you to throw the ball correctly. Throwing the ball correctly solves two problems: it teaches you how to throw the ball without exerting much effort, which at the same time minimizes your chance of injuries due to incorrect mechanics.
2. Do your warm-ups and stretches. How fun would it be to be able to pitch fast right out of the dugout? However, it doesn't work that way. If you want to pitch fast, you must do your warm-ups and stretches first.
Why? Because doing these helps loosen your muscles which helps you pitch better and prevent injuries due to pulled muscles.
3. Keep yourself relaxed. While stretches and warm-ups help loosen your muscles, tension can cause a reverse effect. So try to keep yourself relaxed before every game. Try to breathe regularly, loosen muscles on your upper back, neck and shoulders. If listening to music helps, you can do that too.
4. Improve the strength muscles involved in pitching. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not at all discounting the importance of strength training to improve your pitching speed. So work out your schedule to include training your muscles involved in pitching such as in your forearms, wrists and shoulders.
5. Don't forget accuracy. Although this isn't exactly an advice on how you can pitch faster, I just thought I'd remind you to take the time to focus on your pitches' accuracy as well. After all, pitching isn't just about speed, but also on how well you can pitch inside or outside the strike zone.
6. Vary your throws. An arsenal of different pitches is the bane of any batter out there. It keeps them guessing what you'll be throwing them next, especially in tight games. So work on having different pitching techniques and don't just focus on speed alone.
It takes more than just these short and quick tips on softball pitching to help you throw faster. It also takes a huge amount of time training and practicing incessantly until you refine your technique. So work on them and at the same time take into consideration the tips I have for you here. And I'm pretty sure how they will positively affect your game will be evident soon enough.
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
sponsor links
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!
By Marc Dagenais
So you want to pitch faster? You can choose to focus only on strengthening your muscles, or you can take a smarter option and take a complete approach to your pitching.
But before I get misunderstood, I'm not discounting the importance of strengthening your muscles to be able to pitch faster. What I'm saying is that it's not all there is to pitching. And becoming a smart pitcher means you can pitch more effectively with lesser effort.
Want to be a smart and efficient pitcher? Here are some tips I have for you:
1. Focus on the mechanics first. Many players focus too much on strength training to make them pitch faster. But nailing the mechanics before anything else should be your priority as a pitcher.
The proper pitching mechanics teaches you to throw the ball correctly. Throwing the ball correctly solves two problems: it teaches you how to throw the ball without exerting much effort, which at the same time minimizes your chance of injuries due to incorrect mechanics.
2. Do your warm-ups and stretches. How fun would it be to be able to pitch fast right out of the dugout? However, it doesn't work that way. If you want to pitch fast, you must do your warm-ups and stretches first.
Why? Because doing these helps loosen your muscles which helps you pitch better and prevent injuries due to pulled muscles.
3. Keep yourself relaxed. While stretches and warm-ups help loosen your muscles, tension can cause a reverse effect. So try to keep yourself relaxed before every game. Try to breathe regularly, loosen muscles on your upper back, neck and shoulders. If listening to music helps, you can do that too.
4. Improve the strength muscles involved in pitching. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not at all discounting the importance of strength training to improve your pitching speed. So work out your schedule to include training your muscles involved in pitching such as in your forearms, wrists and shoulders.
5. Don't forget accuracy. Although this isn't exactly an advice on how you can pitch faster, I just thought I'd remind you to take the time to focus on your pitches' accuracy as well. After all, pitching isn't just about speed, but also on how well you can pitch inside or outside the strike zone.
6. Vary your throws. An arsenal of different pitches is the bane of any batter out there. It keeps them guessing what you'll be throwing them next, especially in tight games. So work on having different pitching techniques and don't just focus on speed alone.
It takes more than just these short and quick tips on softball pitching to help you throw faster. It also takes a huge amount of time training and practicing incessantly until you refine your technique. So work on them and at the same time take into consideration the tips I have for you here. And I'm pretty sure how they will positively affect your game will be evident soon enough.
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
sponsor links
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!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Softball Training - Issues That Prevail
Softball Pitching Trainer
Softball Training - Issues That Prevail
By Marc Dagenais
Sometimes, it is a great idea to reflect upon your thoughts that you have to get started with something that you always dream of becoming. The chances are, you need to be motivated and provoked with the power to become inexorable. Because once you are relentless, you will continuously do the things that you really want. Just like in playing softball, you really want to win. That is your motivator. But sometimes, you don't easily get the chance of winning because you lack the preparation and training which are very much imperative in any softball game.
Since you want to win, you have to train yourself. If softball is your dream winning avenue, then softball training tips should be in your power list of activities. Softball training should be done in order for your body to respond properly to the increasing demands of the real softball game.
Now, in order for you to easily get started with the softball dream, here are some softball training tips that you must deeply consider. Following these will surely lead you to the realization of your softball game dream.
- Get involved in softball. You cannot learn something you are not acquainted with. This means you have to learn the game itself. You have to discover the realities of the game. You must also learn the reason why you choose softball as your target sport. The proper evaluation of your softball know-how will greatly help you achieve more than what you think. You should also integrate in your study the person you want to see after the series of training. In this way, you begin to become motivated because you have designed the future, and it's waiting for you.
- One of the best ways in the softball training is the implementation of proper training programs and conditioning activities so that you will not over-train yourself. The major problem of every softball player is if they are motivated, they want to see the results in an instant. They want to have immediate results of their efforts which is wrong. There is a need to create a training plan that will best work for your body condition. Softball training is not about the immediate result. It is about the best result.
- There is still a need of disciplining yourself in every softball training session. This means you have to maintain what you eat and be able to stay fit for the practice drill and games as well. The softball is a very active game. You need to incorporate as much energy as is needed in order for you to keep pace with the game. In the end, you will feel that you are on your way towards becoming the next big thing in the softball field.
Training means initializing and developing your potentials. Doing consistent and proper softball training can surely help you to unleash your power within. Softball experts weren't born but they were made, they were made by training. And even they are already expert, they still keep on training to develop their skills.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improve 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
Softball Pitching Trainer
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Fast Pitch Pitching Drill
By 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
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
Friday, January 22, 2010
Drills and Activities to Improve Softball Pitching
Coachesbest.com - Over 1400 products and growing!
By Marc Dagenais
Softball pitching is one of the offensive armaments in the softball. Most coaches and trainers pay much concentration in the pitching capability of the players because they believe that this added an artillery and fire power to the game. Poor pitching techniques oftentimes results to a bad performance of the team. Worse, it might lead to losing the game. That is why there is a more complexity in the field of softball pitching drills and activities. Softball players should be equipped with the dos and don'ts of the softball pitching process.
Read on and perfect these valuable drills and activities which will help you get an edge over hitter and batting lineup you face:
The pitching all happens with the release. When this is happening just: · Stay Tall · Pull your shoulders back · Have a firm front side · No bending at the waist
For lower body pitching mechanics: · Make a powerful push from the pitching rubber · Build up a strong, fast and long stride · Make a push-back against the stride leg as the pitching arm comes down through the release point
To maximize your pitching speed, you must: · Make sure that your upper body is upright when at the release · You push back against your stride leg · Your shoulders should most of the time way closed · Your hips should be halfway or less closed at the release
The power, the speed and the landing of the stride determines how effectively the pitcher can push back against the stride in order to throw the ball with a maximum speed.
The fastest pitch depends on the lower portion of a pitcher's body. Remember to always improve the speed and control of the leaping styles. The leaping style must have a fast and strong push-off from the pitching rubber in order to drive the stride leg out fast and far.
Always look at the power and the quickness of the stride to allow for a blocking or a hard push against the stride leg at the end of the pitch sequence. Ideally, your pitching strides must be precise and sure so that a powerful pitching technique will be achieved.
Softball pitching requires technique, speed and proper pitching location. The edge to softball pitching lies upon the perfection of the most comfortable techniques you already have or at least bend your softball life on learning more of the existing pitching techniques.
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!
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By Marc Dagenais
Softball pitching is one of the offensive armaments in the softball. Most coaches and trainers pay much concentration in the pitching capability of the players because they believe that this added an artillery and fire power to the game. Poor pitching techniques oftentimes results to a bad performance of the team. Worse, it might lead to losing the game. That is why there is a more complexity in the field of softball pitching drills and activities. Softball players should be equipped with the dos and don'ts of the softball pitching process.
Read on and perfect these valuable drills and activities which will help you get an edge over hitter and batting lineup you face:
The pitching all happens with the release. When this is happening just: · Stay Tall · Pull your shoulders back · Have a firm front side · No bending at the waist
For lower body pitching mechanics: · Make a powerful push from the pitching rubber · Build up a strong, fast and long stride · Make a push-back against the stride leg as the pitching arm comes down through the release point
To maximize your pitching speed, you must: · Make sure that your upper body is upright when at the release · You push back against your stride leg · Your shoulders should most of the time way closed · Your hips should be halfway or less closed at the release
The power, the speed and the landing of the stride determines how effectively the pitcher can push back against the stride in order to throw the ball with a maximum speed.
The fastest pitch depends on the lower portion of a pitcher's body. Remember to always improve the speed and control of the leaping styles. The leaping style must have a fast and strong push-off from the pitching rubber in order to drive the stride leg out fast and far.
Always look at the power and the quickness of the stride to allow for a blocking or a hard push against the stride leg at the end of the pitch sequence. Ideally, your pitching strides must be precise and sure so that a powerful pitching technique will be achieved.
Softball pitching requires technique, speed and proper pitching location. The edge to softball pitching lies upon the perfection of the most comfortable techniques you already have or at least bend your softball life on learning more of the existing pitching techniques.
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
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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
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Softball Pitching Tips on Common Pitching Errors You Should Avoid
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
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, October 28, 2009
Fastpitch Softball Pitching - 5 Pitching Tips to Make You Successful
SoftballrUs.com SoftballrUs.com SoftballrUs.com
By Marc Dagenais
As a softball pitcher you should know that your position on the team is probably the most important. When team fill out their roster, the first thing they look for is great pitching. Pitchers then should know that they need to be good students of the game and be aware of what is needed from them in the different situations that can take place during a game. Pitchers usually are the difference maker in a game and so if they don't have their A game, then chances are their team won't be victorious. The following softball pitching tips are good pointers for the position and give pitchers a good heads up on how they should approach their craft.
Tip 1 - Throwing a fastball. Use two points to keep your arm properly aligned. Your biceps brush your ear at the top of the backswing, and your pitching hand brushes your hip at release.
Tip 2 - Throwing a curve-ball. Pitchers should know that in order to maximize the curve, you should visualize a series of dots from the mound to the outside corner of the plate. Pitch along those dots.
Tip 3 - Throwing a fastpitch rise. It's possible that your wrist snap may be sideways. Play with different grips or finger pressures and try to relax them.
Tip 4 - Throwing a change-up. Don't always throw the change-up in a given situation. Make sure to change your pitch selection.
Tip 5 - Throwing a drop-ball. Keep your pitching arm close to your body to avoid injury.
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!
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