After this motion, both hands come forward with the glove hand pointing directly at the target as the stride is taken. Next you will put your other knee facing home plate. Former is an issue, latter could be preference / style, but may also be indicative of issues further up the chain. PITCHING GADGETSThese drills were taken from an article written by Duffy ONeill, Pitching Coach of the Ohio Emeralds, One of my favourite gadgets is one I call the changeup glove. In reality it is an old bowling glove which locks the pitchers wrist so that she cannot snap it. Go through your relaxation routine. This will be very evident in the rear view. When the drill starts, the runner on third must make it to second base before the fielder can retrieve and throw all three balls to second base. You are around 40 feet or so away and, lets face it, you have a ballcoming at your nose at 45 to 60mph. The Drill: The best drill (in my opinion) that can help with posture is the first stage of the "reach, track, fire" drills. Start by standing with your arms down and palms inwards. Repeat 15 times before transitioning into other cool down exercises such as shoulder shrugs and hip circles. Place your mitt in a position where you can conceal your pitch signals. The ball must have counter-clockwise rotation as viewed from 3rd base. #8. Use this every time!! Repeat this ten times. Throw from there. The one with two balls throws a pitch to the other, the receiving player must throw a pitch to the first. There is a lotof room for error. Infield Throwing Drill 2 by Pete Sprenkle. 2) From the pitching plate, the pitcher repeats drill 1, but with her full motion. Each dropped or errant throw costs that team a point the team with the least points wins. This motion happens so quickly it is tough to see sometimes, but it is always there in good pitchers. Do 5 sets of fastball-change.6. Plank holds are a great drill for softball pitchers to boost core strength. Partner drills can also help. Hold this position for 30 seconds. When you do the wall workout, take a portable radio/tape/CD unit along and play your favorite lively paced music. Softball pitching drill to help stay tall @elitesoftballtraining #Toti Starting at one cone, sprint to the next, field an imaginary ground ball, then shuffle to the third cone before returning to the starting position. Dont use I couldnt find a catcher as an excuse not to workout your pitching arm. Sports performance training is the physical and mental process of working toward specific athletic, performance or fitness goals through a regimented program. Arm circles are essential in any warm-up. Become a better soccer player through the conditioning workouts, speed training and foot drills on STACK.com. Softball Practice Drills for High School + College Players | Academy Try utilizing the striped ball in your next practice and watch the throwing errors disappear! Tip #3Training during your noncompetitive season?Pam Newton, ASA Junior Olympic Coach. 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. 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. This can work without a catcher, if. Before each pitch take, a deep breath, wink or do whatever is comfortable in order to get relaxed. DO NOT USE A STUCCO WALL a stucco wall is only around 1 inch thick and will be damaged. All Rights Reserved. Here are some cool down drills to use post-pitching session. Rock back into each foot until you feel level. She always has one in her hand. You still have one more strike coming. Then be sure to check out Championship Coach Sue Enquists other Softball Coaching Videos! **Pro tip**: Coordinate arm circles while hopping on one foot or both feet this enhances coordination between arms/legs when producing power. Keep your arm out till the ball is released for extra power. After all, most pitchers in NCAA D-III are very successful without a rise ball (though this is changing). They loosen the shoulder and get the blood flowing. While you are doing this, notice what it does to your forearm. That samefast ball, thrown at a different speed, from one pitch to the next, forces the batter to have to stop and decide exactly when to start her swing. Take your game to the next level with softball drills and workouts at STACK.com. For extra power, add bridges, planks, or sit ups. Once she is consistent at 60 percent, have her do the same thing and have the ball return to the 80 percent mark by again applying the brakes to the last bit of the wind-up. Draw a line at that point. TAKE AIM WITH YOUR GLOVEMany coaches and players overlook the importance the glove hand plays in the ability to control the ball when pitching. Injuries are part of the game, but in a pitcher they are nevitable. Take a piece of chalk and draw a strike zone box on the wall. Core strength drills are crafted to help pitchers increase power, accuracy, and speed. I find that many young pitchers have their weight too far forward, even bending at the waist on delivery. Try these drills to help learn change-up mechanics: Perfecting your softball pitching motion? Have her practice throwing at that speed until she can consistently come down on, or very near, the 80 percent line. SOFTBALL PITCHING DRILL FOR SPEED (Stacked Ball Drill) Then have her throw to the different lines on command. 7. CURVEBALLAs far as drills for a curve the most useful is having the pitcher throw from the slingshot position. Accessibility Statement. Once you have become consistent at doing that, then work on throwing harder. This will place the twine going over the exact center of the pitchers rubber. 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. 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. I have a few striped balls in my pitching bag for use when teaching the roll drop and the riseball. 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). In addition, many dont use their back leg by driving it forward. Each time, roll through the shoulders, hips, elbows and wrists. These can be long toss, speed circles, triple-arm circles, etc. Repeat the drill until its comfortable. Do not let pride stand in the way of producing a Great Athlete. I leave the twine lying on the dirt in that straight line. I'm super excited to be sharing this video with you all! Weight should be directed towards the power line, as this will help with accuracy. And often, if they do get a hold of one, its nothing more than a foul ball. I like to start each pitching practice with the players playing the 3-ball game. In addition to following a healthy diet, athletes must pay particular attention to gaining muscle and losing fat, which together improve athletic performance. One tactic a winning pitcher will use is to throw off-speed pitches. They dont just help get your body ready for the hard work of pitching, but also help create better throwing techniques. RELATED:Fastpitch Hitting Drills for Beginners. A lot of pitchers throw very good floaters that are tough to hit, but why not have one the RIPS?? Tell the pitcher to do the pitching motion again, but this time to hit the handkerchief with their pitching hand. Start by facing away from the pitching rub. To be a successful pitcher, you must take thatadvantage away form the batters. Here is a teaching aid I have had great results with recently for the riseball. 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. Hold the position for 30-60 seconds or as long as you can keep the form. When the pitcher throws at that height over the plate, the umpire should call that pitch a strike. Windmill drills are great for arm strength, technique and pitching velocity. You dont need a catcher, a coach or even a softball park to practice your pitching. See how they can boost your playing skills! Throughout, keep eyes focused on a target ahead. I find that many young pitchers have their weight too far forward, even bending at the waist on delivery. Return to starting position each repetition should take 23 seconds. The results have been remarkable!! Put your weight on the inside balls of your feet. To 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. After warming up with 3 ball we go directly to the tempo drills. Put your palms on the ground and bend your knees at 90 degrees. The only way for her to do so is to properly drag her toe through the delivery. Keep both toes and your navel toward the target and drag your shoe laces toward the target. In some situations, athletes gain an edge with prescribed use of safe supplements. Core strength is key for pitching performance. !, but focus on the job at hand. 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. Rewind the tape and watch it a few more times and you might also discoverthe pitcher leaning at the waist to the opposite side of the power line totry and compensate for the error and still hit reasonably close to thetarget. Many pitchers will throw a certain pitch for an off-speed pitch and that is all. I often see pitchers working the low outside corner (with say drops and curves) on Big hitters in order to keep them from getting the sweet part of the bat on the ball. 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. If you want to become a better football player, regardless of your position, youll need to develop a high level of conditioning. Next are butterflies, then wrist curls isolating just the wrist. Cocking the wrist: Cocking the wrist also takes away power from your pitch it should stay relaxed and neutral. You must finish each pitch in a ready position. WORKOUT: (ALL PITCHES MUST BE THROWN USING THE NORMAL PITCHING ROUTINE). HAVE FUN! One 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. Make sure you are using the correct form when throwing and practice frequently to build muscle memory and accuracy. Be careful not to get under the ball that will cause it to rise. First, I would suggest to all athletes that building their stamina and leg strength comes in the off season. Do this on both sides until you feel limber. MICKEY MOUSEThe only true way to get accuracy is to have the pitcher throw pitches, pitches and more pitches. 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). Develop first-step quickness, serve with power and add inches to your vertical with volleyball training from some of todays top coaches. Now with one strike, your zone should expand a bit. Through STACK, youll find the explosive workouts, conditioning and full-body strength training you need to get bigger, faster and stronger on the lacrosse field. 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. "Stay Tall" | Discuss Fastpitch Softball Community Once your pitcher can do 3 sets of 10 reps, increase the weight and start with 1 set and work up. Once youve built up your conditioning, check out some of our advanced volleyball drills and mental techniques. Roll your shoulders forward and then back. Rotate outward, then inward. Windmills are great for softball pitchers looking to get better! 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. Softball Pitching Drills: Accuracy, Speed, Endurance! Make sure these two areas are correct and your pitcher will have much better control, and, in turn, will be more effective. Do 10 rotations at your own pace. I like for the players to make a mark in the dirt for her stride on the first pitch and then try to beat her mark. 10+ Best Fastpitch Softball Drills & Tips In 2023 | JustBats While doing this, emphasize the proper weight distribution. Now you only swing at it on the third. Good muscle memory is gained by drills, drills and more drills. Have the players stand at 2nd base position, SS, 3rd base position and make throws to first base trying to hit the bucket. Im passionate about helping others get into the game and teach them a thing or two while Im at it. Learn how to execute them precisely: Balance drills are must-have for any softball pitcher. It will not allow the foot to improperly twist before push off. By taking things one component at a time, you can focus your team in . After that, we do one I call Reach For The Sky. Use a weighted ball or medicine ball. There are two ways to avoid doing this. Gradually speed up until you can complete the move without hesitation or inaccuracy at full speed. Then I have them move in ten foot increments back until they are throwing from as far back as 60 feet. Note that for this drill, it might be too advanced for some 8U players. They are invaluable. Try this drill. 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. An 80mph pitch is not very impressive if you cant throw it for a strike. -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. Move back to 40 feet and throw 5-10 riseballs, peel drops and roll drops.5. Ueno might have one of the best motions, best mechanics. This starter program should go for 5 to 6 months for maximum results and convert to sprint training during season. Take deep breaths and relax your muscles. This will relax you. Have you pitcher take a pitching position with the power line exactly underthe center of her body, feet equally far from the power line to each side. Of course he was right, and I knew that intuitively. FOREARM STRENGTHHeres a tip a coach told me about quite a number of years ago. If you are prepared and relaxed, you will be confident. This is great for increasing flexibility for softball pitching delivery. At STACK, youll not only get football-specific conditioning workouts, youll also find strength and power workouts from pros. Now measure the distance between the 40 percent mark and the 100 percent mark. . Every time you walk by, grab a sheet and wad it up, using only one hand. We throw 10 to 15 pitches at this distance. 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. For drop balls, the weight must be on the front foot at release. What I enjoy most about the sport is that its so versatile there are endless possibilities when it comes to tactics and game-play. Batters rely and depend on timing the pitchers motions to make that big decision when to pull the trigger and start their swing. 1. This drill builds proper pitching mechanics and can be used by pitchers of any experience level. With 99% of your attention devoted to catching the ball and not getting hit,it is very hard to try and focus on the pitchers feet to see exactly whereshe is on the power line. Result? #6. If you have the room, do the long-toss drill. 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. 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). 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. Online statistics. This drill can increase your strength in the hand, wrist, and especially the forearm. International Softball 2023 All rights Reserved. This motion does a couple of different things. You dont need a catcher, a coach or a radar gun to workout and tell you if youre throwing faster. This drill helps improve control and accuracy by teaching. Make it the strike zone for your height. Then do the drill two more times with moderate intensity. Find drills on hitting, pitching, defense, as well as drills for catchers. Engage your abs by pulling your navel towards your spine and shoulder blades together. Staying "tall" | Discuss Fastpitch Softball Community If the pitch is not where you want it but is still a strike, dont worry. Queen Of The Hill Review. #2. Try this drill to improve follow-through accuracy and smoothness: Pitching practice done? Continue moving back and increasing the arc of the pitch until you cannot get it across the plate anymore. Advanced Drills - Fastpitch Power She hates them!!! When I was a kid I threw for an hour a day after school. Then I have them move in ten foot increments back until they are throwing from as far back as 60 feet. Correcting Foot Turn in Pitching - Rita Lynn Gilman's Softball Pitching If the line wavers or is non-existant, the rotation is incorrect and more rotational work is needed. Keep both arms extended throughout the move and. One thing that I believe helped me was one of those squeezer deals. Every coach needs new ideas to keep their players on their toes and practice interesting and fun. Next we throw 8 balls concentrating on arm speed. Softball Catcher Drills Professional Guide. 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. It is OK to take a strike; hitting the pitch just because it is a strike lowers your chances of getting a hit because the pitch was not what you were looking for. Begin as if you were on the mound with your feet staggered and your throwing arm foot slightly in front. The drills should be done with some purpose. Come back daily for basketball training videos and drills from some of the nations top basketball programs and advice from professional coaches and trainers. During this drill, the player snaps her wrist as quickly and violently as possible. No shifting forward or backward. Have the catcher throw to 3rd who throws to 2nd who throws to SS who throws to 1st who throws to catcher. You cannot deliver a quality pitch if you are tense.2. Figure out a routine for yourself to follow for practice and games. While it can do these things, the main job of the glove in pitching is to aim the ball. Medicine ball throws are a great way to build it up.
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