3 Killer Softball Pitching Drills for Accuracy! Slowly lower the leg, maintaining the same distance between it and the leading foot. Keep your arm out till the ball is released for extra power. Learn how to execute them precisely: Balance drills are must-have for any softball pitcher. Keep legs rigid and arms relaxed. We do a lot of drill work, along with pitching. Copyright 2023 STACK Powered by Stack Sports. Roll your shoulders forward and then back. Then be sure to check out Championship Coach Sue Enquists other Softball Coaching Videos! Softball Pitching Drills JOE'S LONG TOSS The following speed drill also works for accuracy, while building arm strength. Softball Catcher Drills Professional Guide. If you do (everybody does) go through your relaxation routine and increase your focus the next time you are in that situation.5. Windmill drills are great for arm strength, technique and pitching velocity. Begin as if you were on the mound with your feet staggered and your throwing arm foot slightly in front. This can be done anywherein a car, bus, rain, snow, summer, winter, etc. Place a runner and a fielder both on third base. Plant your heel to balance quickly. 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. 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). #8. 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. Then do the drill two more times with moderate intensity. The aim is to throw with power, accuracy and consistency, while keeping good control and balance. Hold the position for 30-60 seconds or as long as you can keep the form. This drill can increase your strength in the hand, wrist, and especially the forearm. Remember, this game is for the players! We dont want to teach her to drive and step back on every pitch. 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. Arm position should focus on reducing distance from glove to target. I set Mickey in the batters box and call for inside drop balls (peel drop) and inside fastballs. Tell the pitcher to do the pitching motion again, but this time to hit the handkerchief with their pitching hand. Pitching when you are hurt will only make your injury worse.7. Wall sits are a great core strength drill to help build energy and power for softball pitching. This will give the runner the next base. 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. Concentrating on the proper position of the hand at the hip. I hope that this helps someone in their pitching practice.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'softballtutor_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_14',191,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-softballtutor_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); STRIPED BALL FOR PITCHINGI have a few striped balls in my pitching bag for use when teaching the roll drop and the riseball. Rotate outward, then inward. WEIGHT BACKWe do a lot of drill work, along with pitching. If the line wavers or is non-existant, the rotation is incorrect and more rotational work is needed. If the pitch is not where you want it but is still a strike, dont worry. At the higher levels, the slower pitches give the hitters time to reload and crush the ball, but at the younger levels (through high school) there is nothing more entertaining than watching the big floater baffle a batter., Improper ball rotation on the pitch can be corrected with several gadgets. Softball message board with discussions on softball hitting, softball pitching, coaching youth softball and where you can get softball drills and softball tips. Next we throw 8 balls concentrating on arm speed. The following youth softball pitching drills are designed to help players master the components of the pitch before putting the whole pitch together. Note that for this drill, it might be too advanced for some 8U players. It will require a solid concrete wall, a piece of chalk and a tape measure. Of course he was right, and I knew that intuitively. Every time you walk by, grab a sheet and wad it up, using only one hand. Next, take three to four giant steps back, mark your next line, do your 10 from there. 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. The glove allows the pitcher to grip the ball and, with some decrease in stride. Note: Your younger girls are not going to be . Now wehave established the 40 per cent mark. Here is Ashley Holcombe's, a former catcher for Team USA, stance tips. USING THE POWER LINE FOR FINE TUNINGIf you are working with a pitcher and you are the one catching for her, itstough to see exactly what is going on with the stride foot when it touchesdown. As far as drills for a curve the most useful is having the pitcher throw from the slingshot position. The same body parts used in pitching are engaged when throwing a medicine ball: hips, chest, arms, and shoulders. End Game 2 Drill By Jill Today we are bringing you the next video in our "foundational drill" mini series! 7. We may occasionally review products that could generate commissions that enable the site to continue running. They help stabilize pitching motion and focus on refining technique. Throughout, keep eyes focused on a target ahead. I have spoken to a lot of coaches who have had players experience this injury. Find drills on hitting, pitching, defense, as well as drills for catchers. The following speed drill also works for accuracy, while building arm strength. Once your pitcher can do 3 sets of 10 reps, increase the weight and start with 1 set and work up. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE TO CATCH FOR YOU, set up a video camera at the same spot you were sitting/kneeling down. Stretch your thumb back so it is in line with your middle finger. You dont need a pitching coach, or an expensive radar gun, to tell you if you are throwing harder than you were a few weeks ago. Repeat 15 times before transitioning into other cool down exercises such as shoulder shrugs and hip circles. Make it the strike zone for your height. Watch the placement of the glove, the angle of it, and the angle of the wrist. Sue will share some great tips and softball pitching, hitting and much more! Put your weight on the inside balls of your feet. Softball Drills: Batting, Pitching, Fielding It may not display this or other websites correctly. Repeat this drill in both directions. What I found by this, is that when they do actually pitch, they do not drop their shoulders and make that swooping motion. They loosen the shoulder and get the blood flowing. While you are doing this, notice what it does to your forearm. Balance drills may seem difficult at first. To practice these pitches, control arm speed and ensure mechanics look like throwing a fastball. Try very hard not to walk her.2. After 10 to 15 pitches from this distance, we move back to about 25 feet and throw at about 50% speed. Using this exercise really helped me in my pitching. Many coaches and players overlook the importance the glove hand plays in the ability to control the ball when pitching. Register Log in 1 2 3 Next May 13, 2012 #1 B BradB41 May 31, 2011 129 16 My DD made some dramatic progress this past off season. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. 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. I have my pitchers pitch from approximately 20 feet, 10 balls. Next are butterflies, then wrist curls isolating just the wrist. Try these drills to help learn change-up mechanics: Perfecting your softball pitching motion? 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. As an example (R/H pitcher). The drills should be done with some purpose. For some pitchers, this motion is shortened and they come right out of the glove. This is a really aggressive drill that needs to be more like a fast ball. Measure your distance and next workout, try to beat the mark. 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. I told her all the technical stuff on power and control but she kept doing that old bowlers hook kick during her delivery. The only true way to get accuracy is to have the pitcher throw pitches, pitches and more pitches. Then it might not be an issue. 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. 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. TAKE AIM WITH YOUR GLOVEMany coaches and players overlook the importance the glove hand plays in the ability to control the ball when pitching. While doing this, emphasize the proper weight distribution. So if you were a .500 hitter before, now you are a .500 hitter with two strikes on you and, by being patient and pickier, you are a better hitter with one strike and a much better hitter with on strikes. Imagine a line from your feet to home plate. 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Practice using your fingertips to develop spin. There are two ways to avoid doing this. First, I would suggest to all athletes that building their stamina and leg strength comes in the off season. When you do the wall workout, take a portable radio/tape/CD unit along and play your favorite lively paced music. Medicine ball throws are a great way to build it up. Continue dragging your throwing side foot toward the target with your shoe laces toward the target as long as possible. Train for wrestling with workouts that provide the explosive strength and power you need to take down an opponent. To acheive our goal of the 12 oclock to 6 oclock rotation on the ball as it travels to home plate, we use hockey pucks, rolls of tape and even cocktail peanut cans (for the cans, you need to add weight by stuffing them with bunched up paper, or sawdust, then tape extensively).. To make it harder, increase the duration or use hands held ab sliders. During this drill, the player snaps her wrist as quickly and violently as possible. I have a few striped balls in my pitching bag for use when teaching the roll drop and the riseball. Q: How often should I practice these drills? As a coach, it is your responsibility to find that flaw and eliminate it. Just deliver the pitch in the location called and you have done your job. Every coach needs new ideas to keep their players on their toes and practice interesting and fun. On your way around stop your left hand right above your knee. 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. Have her keep throwing and backing up to the point the ball just reaches her without hitting the ground. There is no drill. Here is a growing collection of softball drills so come back often to see what's cooking! First we throw 8 balls into a net concentrating on wrist snap. RELATED:Squash the Bug and Other Softball Batting Tips That Dont Work. After it flies it's all for style points. After about 2 -4 times, the pitcher has increased the delivery distance and stretched further down/over. Heres a tip a coach told me about quite a number of years ago. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Softball Pitching Drills: Accuracy, Speed, Endurance! It will not allow the foot to improperly twist before push off. This does a couple of different things. Relaxed and loose fingers will create more spin. Also in this article was a weighted ball made with 100 finishing nails (2 to 2 1/2) pounded sub-flush in the seam holes, using another nail to get them sub-flush. Even in practice, deliver each pitch from the normal pitching routine. Make sure these two areas are correct and your pitcher will have much better control, and, in turn, will be more effective. Many pitchers will throw a certain pitch for an off-speed pitch and that is all. Check out these 3 killer softball pitching drills for accuracy that we have compiled! -I will then drive a 16 penny nail, touching the twine, about 10 feet infront of the rubber. With content ranging from Abby Wambachs workout to the latest gear reviews to Real Salt Lakes speed training, theres something here for soccer players of all levels. SOFTBALL PITCHING DRILLS AND GAMES These are various pitching drills. I will use a roll of bright colored construction twine and stretch ittightly from that nail at the back tip of home plate, to the front of 2ndbase. You can count on replacing Mickey about twice a season, but at about $5.00, it is a great tool!
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