This is especially true in younger pitchers (12-15). Q: How can I improve my pitching accuracy? It helps secure the idea in their memory and their accuracy improves immediately. I find that combining the short and long distances works on two things at the same timearm stength (speed) and accuracy. She has to throw 100 to 150 pitches every night, PERIOD!! I have spoken to a lot of coaches who have had players experience this injury. Slowly lower the leg, maintaining the same distance between it and the leading foot. 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. Start by pulling your shoulders down, spine straight, arms at sides and palms down. Q: How often should I practice these drills? Tip #2Choosing the right pitch (Part 2 of 3 part series)By Michael CisnerosEditor, Softball Today Magazine. This is the most important aspect of throwing a breaking pitch. But since it is practice, you will swing at them. Swing arms from side to side. Rotate through the pitch delivery. Make sure that at each distance, the rotation and weight distribution is correct. Start by standing with your arms down and palms inwards. After 10 or 15 pitches (depending on the age of the pitcher) at full power, back up 5 feet. Have someone hold a shield to create resistance. Plant your heel to balance quickly. Use this every time!! This is a really aggressive drill that needs to be more like a fast ball. A: Improving your pitching accuracy requires a combination of proper mechanics and practice. What I enjoy most about the sport is that its so versatile there are endless possibilities when it comes to tactics and game-play. All Rights Reserved. DO NOT USE A STUCCO WALL a stucco wall is only around 1 inch thick and will be damaged. There is also much that can be used for analysing apitcher from those angles. After it flies it's all for style points. In addition, many dont use their back leg by driving it forward. The first mistake is pivoting on your drive/drag leg, which limits the amount of power that can be transferred from your lower body into your pitches. Keep your arm out till the ball is released for extra power. It goes like this: Start out in the K position. After checking out the baseball workouts on STACK.com, browse through the articles and videos below for drills, advice, and motivation from some of the nations top coaches, college baseball programs, and elite athletes. Good muscle memory is gained by drills, drills and more drills. I have the pitchers throw over hand again to cool down once practice is done. If you do (everybody does) go through your relaxation routine and increase your focus the next time you are in that situation.5. 5 Drills for Hitting the Outside Pitch - Coaches Insider Again take three to four more giant steps back, mark your line, and throw from there. Now you only swing at it on the third. Check out more workouts and drills in our soccer training video gallery. Then I have them move in ten foot increments back until they are throwing from as far back as 60 feet. To check a pitcher on the power line most folks will take their shoe anddraw a fat line in the dirt right in front of the rubber. 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. A lot of pitchers throw very good floaters that are tough to hit, but why not have one the RIPS?? In this guide, well look at some warm-up drills for softball pitchers. This will enable you to field your position and protect you from line-drives back at you.3. #7. Have the pitcher gently put on the brakes at the end of the wind-up so the ball only returns as far as the 60 percent mark. Features . What I found by this, is that when they do actually pitch, they do not drop their shoulders and make that swooping motion. The key to this is too have the wrist turn over and propel the ball with tons of rotation. Have her keep throwing and backing up to the point the ball just reaches her without hitting the ground. Run and Drag Begin as if you were on the mound with your feet staggered and your throwing arm foot slightly in front. It's a function of mechanics. Windmill drills help with key fundamentals like using core muscles, arm motion follow-through and form. !, but focus on the job at hand. Try this drill. Maximize your performance with workouts, drills and advice from coaches and athletes from some of the top college wrestling programs in the nation in our wrestling training video library. Point one arm out in front. Drop elbows and deepen circle radius, doing this periodically during practice. Give them a go! Softball message board with discussions on softball hitting, softball pitching, coaching youth softball and where you can get softball drills and softball tips. First arm curls. From what I have seen, most outs in the course of a ball game are due to swinging at the wrong pitch. Everyone waits for you. While doing this, emphasize the proper weight distribution. 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. Next, measure the distance from the wall to the point of what would be the regulation throwing distance for the pitchers level of play, then subtract two feet. 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. Hold one or two light medicine balls at chest level. Proper nutrition provides athletes with the energy, nutrients and hydration they need to progress in their training and perform optimally. Copyright 2023 STACK Powered by Stack Sports. Make sure these two areas are correct and your pitcher will have much better control, and, in turn, will be more effective. Softball Pitching Drills For Warm Up 52,679 views Jul 8, 2021 973 Dislike Share Save MegRem Softball 54.1K subscribers Audrey Broyles, former University of South Carolina pitcher, shows. If you want to become a better football player, regardless of your position, youll need to develop a high level of conditioning. The pitcher throws 8 pitches concentrating on reaching for the sky at the very top of the windmill. Repeat this activity, but each time, the coach moves a distance farther from the pitcher. When one of my pitchers is having a tough time getting her riseball to move, I have her go through her pitching motion in super slow motion. Cooling down drills decrease soreness, fatigue and boost flexibility. For this drill, the pitcher should only throw to the top half of the zone. Just deliver the pitch in the location called and you have done your job. Even in practice, deliver each pitch from the normal pitching routine. Never let them see you sweat!!6. Once the pitcher starts her push off the rubber she should concentrate on bringing the hand around with the hip and peeling the ball off the side of the hand. 3 KEYS TO PITCHINGThe secret to an effective softball career is muscle memory, which is obtained with the constant repetition of proper mechanics used in playing the game. That same fast ball can be thrown at say, 55, 45 and 40mph. This will relax you. They will have to depend on watching the ball travel from the pitchers hand to determine exactly how fast it iscoming. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'softballtutor_com-box-4','ezslot_1',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-softballtutor_com-box-4-0');JOES LONG TOSSThe following speed drill also works for accuracy, while building arm strength. I have a few striped balls in my pitching bag for use when teaching the roll drop and the riseball. While you are doing this, notice what it does to your forearm. Keep eyes forward, head level, chest slightly raised, hips loose, hips square to batting zone. Hitting Drill - Homerun Derby by the . This drill helps improve infielder footwork and agility. To up the intensity, add weight to your arms or speed up each set of 10. You are around 40 feet or so away and, lets face it, you have a ballcoming at your nose at 45 to 60mph. Bend at the waist and lift arms up to shoulder-height. Remember, this game is for the players! I find that many young pitchers have their weight too far forward, even bending at the waist on delivery. Have 2 teams of 5 players 1 player at each infield position including catcher (but not pitcher). This pain may also be caused by a muscle imbalance. Helping. If not, correct it immediately, before moving on to the next distance. If running is not your thing then you can ride a bike, kick box, aerobics or swim doing these for 30 minutes to one hour. The way to do this is to have the wrist turn over very late in the pitch. Post a video. Have her practice that until she can consistently throw it to where the ball comes off the wall and lands on, or very near, the 60 percent line. These pitches are not thrown from the pitching stance. You want the distance to be where the ball may or would be hit by the batter, about 1 foot in front of the plate. she can throw with the same motion as her fastball and still have a perceptible decrease in speed., These pitches can range from slightly offspeed to one that have almost a slowpitch arc to them. 10+ Best Fastpitch Softball Drills & Tips In 2023 | JustBats Take your time. Remember, to give up a handful of accuracy for a pinch more speed, is NEVER a good trade. An accurate throw will return straight back to you. You must finish each pitch in a ready position. This will be very evident in the rear view. Repeat the drill until its comfortable. Come back daily for basketball training videos and drills from some of the nations top basketball programs and advice from professional coaches and trainers. Assistant Coach Sara Griffin, was working with the pitchers and she had them do a drill that I thought was really good. She always has one in her hand. Do 5-10 reps each way: forwards, backwards and side-to-side. Tell the pitcher to do the pitching motion again, but this time to hit the handkerchief with their pitching hand. I find that many young pitchers have their weight too far forward, even bending at the waist on delivery. Fastpitch Softball Pitching Drills - Balance - Softball Spot 6 Proven Youth Softball Pitching Drills - Softball Spot Raise the leg in a fluid motion, as if in an actual pitch, until parallel to the ground. Using this exercise really helped me in my pitching. Maintain good posture, no bending at waist or bottom out in back foot during kick. -I will drive a 16 penny nail into the dirt just behind the back tip of homeplate. Go through your relaxation routine. More velocity and accuracy! of softball pitching, at the end of the stride the push-back against the stride leg serves as the resistance (or "reaction") for the action of the arm as it does its final downswing into the release of the pitch. Keep your arms loose and relaxed. Throw 5 change-ups, then throw fastball-change, fastball-change. Having a thin and bright colored power line behind the pitcher will give youan exact reference point and you will see exactly where the stride footcomes down in relationship to the power line and any inconsistencies withthe feet. These drills were taken from an article written by Duffy ONeill, Pitching Coach of the Ohio Emeralds. Teaching your pitcher to throw Off-Speed. The pitcher takes a bucket of balls and moves to a point just behind pitchers rubber. Using this exercise really helped me in my pitching. They can help ease tension in the rotator cuff, reduce soreness and give more freedom in the shoulder joint. Do 10 sets each leg with 1 minute rest between sets. The following drills can help with pitching from the stretch: Change-ups surprise or fool batters and give an edge in a game. When I was a kid I threw for an hour a day after school. Enough said here!! Her landing might not be off by much and she might not be leaningmuch to compensate for it, maybe not enough to be evident from 40 feet awaywhen you are concentrating on catching the ball. The one with two balls throws a pitch to the other, the receiving player must throw a pitch to the first. International Softball is a fan-led softball blog and forum, sharing the latest tips, tricks and info to improve your game. A lot of pitchers get lazy, overlooking this mechanic, and then wonder what happened to their control. Of course he was right, and I knew that intuitively. Hold the position for 30-60 seconds or as long as you can keep the form. Every coach needs new ideas to keep their players on their toes and practice interesting and fun. However, batters today are getting smarter and better and learning to go with those outside pitches. Check out these 3 killer softball pitching drills for accuracy that we have compiled! Build your football workout today! This motion happens so quickly it is tough to see sometimes, but it is always there in good pitchers. Do the first set from the mound with your power line. The secret to an effective softball career is muscle memory, which is obtained with the constant repetition of proper mechanics used in playing the game. Then I bought her a pair of mid-high shoes. Next, larger and smaller circles (15 secs each). Therefore, performing effective pitching drills will lead to more versatile, efficient, and speedy hurls needed to deliver an all-around powerful performance. The drills are for a right handed pitcher. A: It is recommended to practice softball pitching drills at least three times a week. Do 10 rotations at your own pace. As Doug worded it to me when I first worked with him, think about most really good pitchers youve seen. After warming up with 3 ball we go directly to the tempo drills. Every pitcher has one problem in common; sometimes you need or want to practice your pitching and cant come up with anyone to catch for you. Keep legs rigid and arms relaxed. Once they bite, I continue to climb. LONG TOSSThis drill can be done either with a catcher or against a backstop. On your way around stop your left hand right above your knee. 5 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Their Child Joins a Sport. At first, do not be concerned with accuracy. The right knee stays on the ground. Video tape your pitcher if you cannot see this motion and run it back slowly. Rotate outward, then inward. Repeat these steps until pitching at full power from a normal pitching distance. Have the pitcher throw the same pitch several times and focus only on thelegs and especially the feet. 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. Arms up to chest level. In most cases, the pitchers are merely sliding their hand under the ball to give the proper rotation for the riseball, however, if you want a riseball that RIPS, try this. Increase rotation speed. You can use PVC pipe, batting tees, or even hooks on a wall to fashion the ropes to your liking. Dont use I couldnt find a catcher as an excuse not to workout your pitching arm. You will both be very surprised at how much you can tell aboutthe pitchers motions when you see it from behind. Use a weighted ball or medicine ball. Thanks to Duffy ONeill for the article and the tips. I use an inflatable toy in pitching practice a lot. You still have one more strike coming. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Shoulder rolls are essential after softball pitching sessions. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and do an exaggerated windmill motion with your arms. In between each of these drills, I have the pitchers do weights with a 9 pound dumbbell. 1) From an open-hipped position (front foot toward the target/catcher), the pitcher does a snap drill, driving the back knee in to the front knee. These drills help players of all ages and abilities. Unfortunately, many pitchers make two common mistakes that limit the speed and velocity of their pitches. THE WALL WORKOUTEvery pitcher has one problem in common; sometimes you need or want to practice your pitching and cant come up with anyone to catch for you. During batting practice, you will swing at hundreds of pitches, as opposed to the four that you swing at in a game. If she is not willing to sacrifice this time and effort, find another pitcher. If you are prepared and relaxed, you will be confident. Log in Find My Team. I told her all the technical stuff on power and control but she kept doing that old bowlers hook kick during her delivery. SOFTBALL PITCHING DRILL FOR SPEED (Stacked Ball Drill) STACK has the volleyball drills and workouts you need to take your game to the next level. This will place the twine going over the exact center of the pitchers rubber. Make sure your body is straight from head to feet and back is not arched or sagging. If she is not willing to sacrifice this time and effort, find another pitcher. Be careful not to get under the ball that will cause it to rise. You may also call time out to talk to the catcher.3. Im passionate about helping others get into the game and teach them a thing or two while Im at it. Ok that was a bit harsh. Figure out a routine for yourself to follow for practice and games. Warm-ups are a must for any pitcher! Keep a steady tempo, doing 10-15 reps. Take a few moments to stretch your arms, shoulders, pecs and traps. Former is an issue, latter could be preference / style, but may also be indicative of issues further up the chain. With the line extended you will be able to tell,fairly well, if she is off the line. 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 . Next are butterflies, then wrist curls isolating just the wrist. When doing a windmill drill, focus on body position: Use these tips for successful softball pitching drills! They loosen the shoulder and get the blood flowing. Work on change-ups. Pitchers need short memories. **Pro tip**: Coordinate arm circles while hopping on one foot or both feet this enhances coordination between arms/legs when producing power. And often, if they do get a hold of one, its nothing more than a foul ball. Try this drill to improve follow-through accuracy and smoothness: Pitching practice done? If it crosses the plate, move back 5 feet and toss another one. This exercise will help improve stability, posture, and balance while pitching. I recommend starting with a light weight (4 pound) dumbbell doing arm curls, butterflies, and wrist snaps in 10 rep sets. 1a) Same drill, but when the pitcher drives the back knee to the front, she stays there, on balance, until the catcher throws the ball back. Softball Drills On Hitting, Pitching, Defense, Catching & Coaching You must log in or register to reply here. 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). It is done with both feet together. Make sure your weight is even in both feet. Set up and take your pitching stance with a ball and glove or bat. This drill can increase your strength in the hand, wrist, and especially the forearm. -I will then drive a 16 penny nail, touching the twine, about 10 feet infront of the rubber. By taking things one component at a time, you can focus your team in . 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 . Then be sure to check out Championship Coach Sue Enquists other Softball Coaching Videos! It will not take long for her to figure this out, as she will catch on to this quickly. Squash the Bug and Other Softball Batting Tips That Dont Work, Fastpitch Softball Pitching Tips for Beginners, Fun Basketball Drills That Improve Court Skills, The New Procedure Thats Revolutionizing ACL Surgery and Recovery, The Responsibilities of Parents in College Athletics Recruiting. Hold this position for 13 seconds. It is important to continue keeping the wind-up at 100 percent full speed, but gently slow it down at the last moment. For drop balls, the weight must be on the front foot at release. Try very hard not to walk her.2. While it can do these things, the main job of the glove in pitching is to aim the ball. Queen Of The Hill Review. They dont just help get your body ready for the hard work of pitching, but also help create better throwing techniques.
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