Shift body weight onto the balls of the feet. Ok that was a bit harsh. Roll your shoulders forward and then back. When you bust a batter hard and inside it is difficult for them to get their bat head around and/or to get extended on the ball. Catching Tips - Stance with Ashley Holcombe of USA Softball. Softball Pitching Need some drills or suggestions for 12yo DD BradB41 May 13, 2012 Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web. Then move back to the last sucessful toss and toss 3 more. This exercise will help improve stability, posture, and balance while pitching. This motion happens so quickly it is tough to see sometimes, but it is always there in good pitchers. It goes like this: Start out in the K position. 2) From the pitching plate, the pitcher repeats drill 1, but with her full motion. Then, move on to more advanced exercises. Partner drills can also help. -Then I let the string go loose and all the way around the edge of the circle(so it is not in the pitchers way of throwing) and tie it to the nailbehind the rubber. Features . Rock back into each foot until you feel level. These can be long toss, speed circles, triple-arm circles, etc. In the normal delivery, the hands separate and the ball hand moves back and up in a rocker motion. Members online 6 Guests online 124 Total . While it can do these things, the main job of the glove in pitching is to aim the ball. If the line looks solid, the rotation is probably correct. If it is not treated promptly, it will lead to a long rehab time and possibly something more serious. They are walk-ins, meaning that they are thrown while walking into the pitch. This does a couple of different things. Time to cool down the arm! Then do the drill two more times with moderate intensity. FOREARM STRENGTHHeres a tip a coach told me about quite a number of years ago. Do 10 rotations at your own pace. It is the kind with sand in the bottom of it so it stays upright. In order to do this drill, the pitcher should be throwing at maybe 75%. While you are doing this, notice what it does to your forearm. There are, obviously, many different approaches a pitcher can take to beat a good hitter. If she is not willing to sacrifice this time and effort, find another pitcher. I have had pitchers add between 2 & 4 feet to their delivery motion and end-up distance. If you are prepared and relaxed, you will be confident. Start with a triangle stance, with the weight slightly forward on the front foot. SOFTBALL PITCHING DRILLS AND GAMES These are various pitching drills. Maintain good posture, no bending at waist or bottom out in back foot during kick. To do this drill, stand with feet shoulder-width apart. If you can catch the ball without it hitting the ground, or without you taking a step closer to the wall, you have fairly good speed for your level of play. Make sure that at each distance, the rotation and weight distribution is correct. The process requires participants to understand and observe NCAA rules and regulations, conduct thorough research, schedule home and campus visits, network and communicate appropriately, and, for most student-athletes, engage in self-marketing. Whether you want to become a stronger skater, develop your stick-handling skills, buy better gear or eat healthier, youll find everything you need at STACK.com. Hitting Drill - Homerun Derby by the . Continue moving back and increasing the arc of the pitch until you cannot get it across the plate anymore. While it can do these things, the main job of the glove in pitching is to aim the ball. Then move back to the last sucessful toss and toss 3 more. From the most basic game of catch to games where players are making the out, young players will learn about proper form and, eventually, how to throw with some MOJO. To up the intensity, add weight to your arms or speed up each set of 10. Try these drills to help learn change-up mechanics: Perfecting your softball pitching motion? Latest sports news, for all pro sports, college sports, high school sports, and more. Divide that distance into three equal parts and draw a line at what would be the 60 percent and 80 percent distances. I told her all the technical stuff on power and control but she kept doing that old bowlers hook kick during her delivery. coaching youth softball and where you can get softball drills and softball tips. Arm position should focus on reducing distance from glove to target. PITCHERS WALLOne of the drills that I have the pitchers do is: Stand next to a wall, approximately 4 to 6 inches away, feet angled at a 45 degree, then go through the motion of either slingshot or windmill. This drill can increase your strength in the hand, wrist, and especially the forearm. I got this game from ASU Head Softball Coach Linda Wells. Forcing them to do that reduces the amount of time they have available to around 40 percent of normal. For even more softball training, check out softball video library. But, well just keep that between you, me and the wall. Repeat this activity, but each time, the coach moves a distance farther from the pitcher. Batters rely and depend on timing the pitchers motions to make that big decision when to pull the trigger and start their swing. Start with a full wind-up, then switch to a, Take two steps forward and release the ball. Get a demo; Features; Pricing; Tournaments; FAQs; Coaches or Team Managers. For even more volleyball training content, check out our volleyball video library. Windmill drills are great for arm strength, technique and pitching velocity. Move both shoulders in circles: one clockwise, one counter-clockwise. So I told her before she would get a new pair she would have to wear the toe out of the mids. Sequence the riseball mechanics and locate the position when the wrist turns over. At first, these drills may be hard for some softball pitchers. Throw from there. The keys are the same for any position, Preparation (drills and muscle memory), Confidence (knowing that you can perform any athletic task required because of your hard work and muscle memory) and Relaxation (when your have confidence in your preparation you are relaxed and can focus on the game). To do a plank hold, start in a push-up position. In addition, many dont use their back leg by driving it forward. #2. Use a weighted ball or medicine ball. Keep your arm out till the ball is released for extra power. 3-2-1. Keep the ball parallel to the drive leg when releasing, shoulders square to the baseball diamond, and wrist snapped up or follow through (whole hand higher than elbow). It almost has the feeling of falling back. Pull out first base and put a 3-4 ft wooden pole (old broomstick or shovel handle) into the base peg hole and put a bucket over the top of the stick. Make sure your pitcher is pointing her glove at the target with the wrist pointing up, which will in turn point the glove webbing straight up. LONG TOSSThis drill can be done either with a catcher or against a backstop. An 80mph pitch is not very impressive if you cant throw it for a strike. Develop first-step quickness, serve with power and add inches to your vertical with volleyball training from some of todays top coaches. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then I have them move in ten foot increments back until they are throwing from as far back as 60 feet. This will place the twine going over the exact center of the pitchers rubber. I have a few striped balls in my pitching bag for use when teaching the roll drop and the riseball. They allow for your body to finish the motion. Core strength is key for pitching performance. Have her practice throwing at that speed until she can consistently come down on, or very near, the 80 percent line. They may be able to see something you cannot! Note: Your younger girls are not going to be . They dont just help get your body ready for the hard work of pitching, but also help create better throwing techniques. For more foundational drill videos, advanced drills, power RELATED:Fastpitch Softball Pitching Tips for Beginners. The forefinger (the middle one) will be along the seam and the index finger under the forefinger ( basically the same grip as the rise). I told her all the technical stuff on power and control but she kept doing that old bowlers hook kick during her delivery. OFF SPEED PITCHINGTeaching your pitcher to throw Off-Speed. This guide provides hands-on instructions so that pitchers of all levels can better their core strength, control, and trajectory. . Once your pitcher can do 3 sets of 10 reps, increase the weight and start with 1 set and work up. When you watch a pitcher, a lot of times all you do is hear the slap of the glove on the thigh and think that the glove is used only as a way to make some noise, in order to perhaps distract the batter, or time the release of the ball. Balance drills may seem difficult at first. At first, do not be concerned with accuracy. Q: How can I improve my pitching accuracy? The front upper arm should be close to the chest, with the elbow bent outward. Then she immediately takes a step back with the back leg. It helps secure the idea in their memory and their accuracy improves immediately. Make sure your body is straight from head to feet and back is not arched or sagging. RELATED:Fastpitch Hitting Drills for Beginners. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'softballtutor_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-softballtutor_com-banner-1-0');KI recently attended a clinic at Arizona State University that Linda Wells and her staff put on specifically for our team. Accessibility Statement. Practice using your fingertips to develop spin. For rise balls, the weight must be on the trail foot and release must be against a firm and resistant front foot. If the pitcher throws too quickly without enough weight transfer, the pitch will go off target. Be careful not to get under the ball that will cause it to rise. The one with two balls throws a pitch to the other, the receiving player must throw a pitch to the first. Good muscle memory is gained by drills, drills and more drills. During batting practice, you will swing at hundreds of pitches, as opposed to the four that you swing at in a game. Bend at the hips and knees to push off the mound like you would push off to. What I found by this, is that when they do actually pitch, they do not drop their shoulders and make that swooping motion. This motion does a couple of different things. Start by facing away from the pitching rub. Keep both arms extended throughout the move and. You must finish each pitch in a ready position. MICKEY MOUSEThe only true way to get accuracy is to have the pitcher throw pitches, pitches and more pitches. It will increase forearm strength also. If you are a right handed pitcher then you would face to the right of the rubber and put your knee on towel which is on the rubber. Enough said here!! The following youth softball pitching drills are designed to help players master the components of the pitch before putting the whole pitch together. Continue dragging your throwing side foot toward the target with your shoe laces toward the target as long as possible. When you watch a pitcher, a lot of times all you do is hear the slap of the glove on the thigh and think that the glove is used only as a way to make some noise, in order to perhaps distract the batter, or time the release of the ball. A: Some basic softball pitching drills include the balance point, arm circle, toe touch, and leg kick drills. You dont need a catcher, a coach or a radar gun to workout and tell you if youre throwing faster. Assistant Coach Sara Griffin, was working with the pitchers and she had them do a drill that I thought was really good. While doing this, emphasize the proper weight distribution. When the pitcher throws at that height over the plate, the umpire should call that pitch a strike. The intent is for pitchers to transfer the importance of that direct step and balance when they pitch from the pitching rubber. -I then stretch the twine taught to the nail in front of 2nd base and tie itoff there. Drop elbows and deepen circle radius, doing this periodically during practice. Just deliver the pitch in the location called and you have done your job. And often, if they do get a hold of one, its nothing more than a foul ball. Look for something in a wider area and follow the same discipline. Pitching when you are hurt will only make your injury worse.7. You may lean off balance. Hold the position for 30-60 seconds or as long as you can keep the form. You still have one more strike coming. Dont mean to nit-pick, but is she leaning at release, or after release? Youll find the basketball workouts and drills youre looking for to take your game to the next level. Also add trunk flexion/extension exercises like. Hold this position for 13 seconds. The Power Push will prevent leaping as it reinforces getting the heel up and pointing the toe down. Softball Pitching Drills JOE'S LONG TOSS The following speed drill also works for accuracy, while building arm strength. The same body parts used in pitching are engaged when throwing a medicine ball: hips, chest, arms, and shoulders. Do 5-10 riseballs, peel drops, and roll drops.4. If a pitcher throws every pitch at the same speed, no matter how fast that is, she gets pounded by the third inning. If you do have a video camera, also try to get shots from the left, rightand front views too. First it adds some power to your release and secondly, it squares your body to the target making it easier to be more consistent. Do not let pride stand in the way of producing a Great Athlete. You will be able to locate problems in the mechanics area a lot faster this way. Most have their weight back and, when throwing a rise, almost falling or stepping back. I went back and viewed old game tapes, Michele Smith, Susie Parra and other instructional tapes. Hold one or two light medicine balls at chest level. This will get everything ready for your next practice or game! Sue will share some great tips and softball pitching, hitting and much more! At STACK, youll not only get football-specific conditioning workouts, youll also find strength and power workouts from pros. If it crosses the plate, move back 5 feet and toss another one. Measure your distance and next workout, try to beat the mark. One tactic a winning pitcher will use is to throw off-speed pitches. When practicing the drill, stand tall and wind up. Hi, my name is Sophie and I love playing softball. To become a successful pitcher you must practice at least every other day. As you progress, when you catch the ball it will have more force behind it and you will be able to tell when you are throwing harder and faster. Learn best practices from athletes who have achieved success and the experts who have helped them. Do not move the twinewhile sitting or kneeling. Begin as if you were on the mound with your feet staggered and your throwing arm foot slightly in front. Set-up: make a starting point by measuring six of your own foot lengths and mark the distance. Practice slowly to embed the mechanics into muscle memory. Start by standing with your arms down and palms inwards. I place a stripe right down the middle of the ball and use them in close rotational work to insure the proper rotation is being imparted to the ball. It is important to continue keeping the wind-up at 100 percent full speed, but gently slow it down at the last moment. Check out hockey drills and workouts from goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, defenseman Duncan Keith, the University of Michigan hockey team and others. 5 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Their Child Joins a Sport. Have the pitcher throw the same pitch several times and focus only on thelegs and especially the feet. Place three softballs about three-fourths of the way from third to home. I was having a hard time breaking a bad habit of HOOK sliding the trailing foot on my 10 year old pitcher (who happens to be my daughter). This is the position your body is in when you have taken your stride toward the plate, your glove hand is pointing toward the target and your ball hand is at its highest point. Every time you walk by, grab a sheet and wad it up, using only one hand. To make it harder, increase the duration or use hands held ab sliders. Unless something is DRASTICALLY off, you probably wont see it. You are around 40 feet or so away and, lets face it, you have a ballcoming at your nose at 45 to 60mph. The riseball is just the opposite from the peel drop. Here is Ashley Holcombe's, a former catcher for Team USA, stance tips. The trailing leg should stay bent at the knee. This is OK and itwill help the pitcher, however, it seldom gives the person catching a goodpoint of reference to see EXACTLY where the foot comes down. They will have to depend on watching the ball travel from the pitchers hand to determine exactly how fast it iscoming. I recommend starting with a light weight (4 pound) dumbbell doing arm curls, butterflies, and wrist snaps in 10 rep sets. It's a function of mechanics. If your pitcher is having problems with control, this is one area I would take a long look at. . Rotate outward, then inward. Pitching from the stretch is an essential skill for all pitchers. They can help ease tension in the rotator cuff, reduce soreness and give more freedom in the shoulder joint. When doing a windmill drill, focus on body position: Use these tips for successful softball pitching drills! Post a video. Remember, to give up a handful of accuracy for a pinch more speed, is NEVER a good trade. I am certain it will work for other pitches also. I feel that every pitcher has to do some sort of weight training to increase her speed. See how they can boost your playing skills! It may not display this or other websites correctly. Sports performance training is the physical and mental process of working toward specific athletic, performance or fitness goals through a regimented program. Pitching gurus, Need advice with pitching style Pitchers Beware~ a post about Being Ready. Throw some heavy balls or close rotation drills to perfect rotation of the ball for certain pitches. Here are two simple drills we do every day to keep weight back, have a firm front leg, drive the back leg and stay on the line of force (all in one drill). Begin every spin with a four-seam fastball grip. Here are two simple drills we do every day to keep weight back, have a firm front leg, drive the back leg and stay on the line of force (all in one drill). 2023 Softball-Spot.com. I got this game from ASU Head Softball Coach Linda Wells. This will relax you. The pitcher takes a bucket of balls and moves to a point just behind pitchers rubber. Bend at the waist and lift arms up to shoulder-height. Whats a good drill to teach young pitchers to stay tall after a pitch/release, DD started to lean after pitch was released, she wasnt doing it now shes starting to . The harder you throw, the closer the ball will return to you without hitting the ground. Again take three to four more giant steps back, mark your line, and throw from there. Warm-up Drills Warm-ups are a must for any pitcher! One thing that I believe helped me was one of those squeezer deals. The focus of this drill is 100% power. Injuries are part of the game, but in a pitcher they are nevitable. Rotate through the pitch delivery. The stripe gives instant feedback to the player and is easy for the catcher to see and determine what rotation has been imparted to the ball. Register Log in 1 2 3 6 Next Mar 2, 2020 #1 T Texas McE Oct 11, 2019 38 8 Please help. Two myfavorites came to me from Doug Gillis, US National Mens team member. The motion of the hands going forward as the stride is being taken helps move the body forward and helps elongate the stride, but the important job here is the aiming. The only true way to get accuracy is to have the pitcher throw pitches, pitches and more pitches. Training refers to the workouts, exercises and drills they perform outside of organized practices to improve their Strength, Speed, Conditioning and Flexibility, as well to rehab and prevent injury. Pitchers need short memories. It provides control in crucial game situations. The ball must have counter-clockwise rotation as viewed from 3rd base. Push through with elbow joint until full extension is achieved and snap your wrist down for whip action. Set up your top rope approximately 25 inches off the ground, and a second rope 6 inches lower. Result? When a pitcher is experiencing soreness or pain stop immediately! DO NOT USE A STUCCO WALL a stucco wall is only around 1 inch thick and will be damaged. If you want to become a better football player, regardless of your position, youll need to develop a high level of conditioning. Of course he was right, and I knew that intuitively. -Then I drive nails just behind the rubber and just in front of 2nd base. It's good practice to have the pivot foot's arch meet the front edge of the plate so the ball of the foot can push-off. Once your pitcher can do 3 sets of 10 reps, increase the weight and start with 1 set and work up. These pitches are not thrown from the pitching stance. This way you give yourself a better chance for success even if the pitch you choose to swing at is not necessarily a good one. A: Improving your pitching accuracy requires a combination of proper mechanics and practice. SQUEEZERI have been pitching mens fastpitch now for almost 20 years. Have her keep throwing and backing up to the point the ball just reaches her without hitting the ground. These drills help to develop proper mechanics, accuracy, and power when throwing a pitch. Most have their weight back and, when throwing a rise, almost falling or stepping back. I went back and viewed old game tapes, Michele Smith, Susie Parra and other instructional tapes. Assistant Coach Sara Griffin, was working with the pitchers and she had them do a drill that I thought was really good. The straight drop (peel drop) is released off the birdie finger and the rotation is clockwise as viewed from 3rd base. This is a really aggressive drill that needs to be more like a fast ball. Do warm-up drills for softball pitching. Put a pile of single sheet newspapers in an area you would normally walk by the most times during the day. This is the most important aspect of throwing a breaking pitch. For some pitchers, this motion is shortened and they come right out of the glove. If they hit these locations in the 10 pitches or less, they are done, if not, they must go to the end of the line and try again. Watch on. A lot of pitchers get lazy, overlooking this mechanic, and then wonder what happened to their control. You can adjust the size and weight of the medicine ball to your skill level. These drills will increase muscle memory and create consistency. In this guide, well look at some warm-up drills for softball pitchers. -Then I stretch the string from home plate to the next nail in front of therubber and tie them off so the twine is taught. SOFTBALL PITCHING DRILL FOR SPEED (Stacked Ball Drill) - YouTube Drill designed to help pitcher focus on drag leg and engaging thigh and core muscles during pitching motion. This tool is specifically meant to help your pitcher feel a good load and get a really STRONG push and glide off the rubber! This will come with reps. After all these pitches have been thrown, I have the pitchers throw peel drop, roll drop, change-up, fastball and rise ball in that order to feel the difference in pitches. Again, the 100 percent distance will be accurate, the others are estimated distances. The release of the ball is incorrect due to the pitcher working on the riseball, (that is another discussion for another time), and the pitcher not using her glove to aim at the target. Drill correctly to boost arm strength, accuracy, power, and control. I recommend starting with a light weight (4 pound) dumbbell doing arm curls, butterflies, and wrist snaps in 10 rep sets. Proper Pitching Stance In Little League Softball, the pitcher's pivot foot needs to be on or in contact with the pitcher's plate. You can also divide the distance between the 40 percent and 100 percent lines into two equal parts and establish 40 percent, 70 percent and 100 percent distances. She has to throw 100 to 150 pitches every night, PERIOD!! The following speed drill also works for accuracy, while building arm strength. You freeze in power K position where most of the postural issues present themselves. While watching their mechanics, the coach will see where their front foot (delivery) foot lands and where their delivery hand lands. For rise balls, the weight must be on the trail foot and release must be against a firm and resistant front foot. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE TO CATCH FOR YOU, set up a video camera at the same spot you were sitting/kneeling down. Looking for more awesome softball pitching drils? IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO CATCH as your pitcher is throwing, take a position about 8 feet in front of 2nd base and get down on one knee or sit on the power line to where your eyes are directly over it. I'm super excited to be sharing this video with you all! First, I would suggest to all athletes that building their stamina and leg strength comes in the off season. One, use what I call the ever increasing strike zone: with no strikes on you, decide to hit a pitch only if it is in a specific zone for me it is chest high in front of the plate and if the ball is there, hit it, and more importantly if it isnt there, dont swing. (The percentage is not accurate but I will use this as an estimate for arguments sake). This helps to ensure that the muscles used in pitching stay tuned and develop over time. I leave the twine lying on the dirt in that straight line. In this guide, well look at some warm-up drills for softball pitchers. Take your time. Gradually speed up until you can complete the move without hesitation or inaccuracy at full speed. Remember, this game is for the players! Therefore, a leaping-style pitcher musthave a strong, fast push-off MOVEMENTTo work on movement pitches, I have my pitchers stand in a line a short distance from me in a power position (stride taken) and softly toss the ball using the proper rotation for peel drop, roll drop, and rise ball. 7. If the runner wins, their team gets one point. What I enjoy most about the sport is that its so versatile there are endless possibilities when it comes to tactics and game-play. You can use PVC pipe, batting tees, or even hooks on a wall to fashion the ropes to your liking. And dont forget to Like Us on Facebook, where we share more great drills, tips and suggestions. It will not allow the foot to improperly twist before push off. cvsoftball said: This will impart some incredible rotation to the ball and will create remarkable movement. Arm circles are essential in any warm-up. Video tape your pitcher if you cannot see this motion and run it back slowly. As far as drills for a curve the most useful is having the pitcher throw from the slingshot position. This drill allows you to break down each part of the pitch. Those of you who are not pitchers, please read the keys and apply the concepts to your position. The reason for this is that the pitcher is not waiting for a ball to be thrown to her. Keep leg strength in the plant leg when throwing, belly button towards catchers glove, and back facing target after the strike. It is absolutely essential that pitchers understand the details and the movements making up the entire pitch instead of launching straight into learning a drop or curve ball. If you look at the body from the third base side, it resembles the letter K. This will give the runner the next base. First we throw 8 balls into a net concentrating on wrist snap. It will not take long for her to figure this out, as she will catch on to this quickly. In between each of these drills, I have the pitchers do weights with a 9 pound dumbbell. What's a good drill to teach young pitchers to stay tall after a pitch/release, DD started to lean after pitch was released, she wasn't doing it now she's starting to . Engage your abs by pulling your navel towards your spine and shoulder blades together. This is great for increasing flexibility for softball pitching delivery. Pitch a ball that crosses over the plate. Now the 5 series outside hitting drills: Feet Facing Forward - Upper Body Facing Plate: have your hitter use a batting T and a home plate, and start with her feet beside each other (spaced out) and facing forward while her chest faces the ball on the T. She works on hitting the ball off the T without moving her feet.