How to Increase the Velocity for Girl's Fastpitch Pitches

Speed is the name of the game in softball whether you're at bat, on the bases, in the field or on the mound. As a pitcher, the harder you throw the more movement your pitches have and less time the batter has to react, given that the plate is only 45 feet from the pitching rubber in the first place. If you want to be one of the top softball pitchers you must be able throw hard as, according to Apex-Sports, "Just about every one of the best pitchers in the world has great velocity."

Instructions

    • 1
      A pitcher's velocity is important with the pitcher's mound only 45 feet from home plate.

      Stand on the rubber with a good body lean. Place your glove hand foot a stride behind the rubber. You should not bend at the waist.

    • 2
      Not bending at the waist will allow you to increase your velocity.

      Explode off the rubber. You accomplish this by transferring the weight, when you are in your windup, from your rear leg that to your drive leg. You need a strong push off the rubber because, according to pitching instructor Gerald Warner, "A strong push against the rubber drives your stride leg faster and farther, resulting in a more complete sideways twist (or 'opening') of your body at the middle part of your arm rotation." Warner adds that this 90 degree opening causes you to quickly close your trunk, or the middle part of your body, which creates a strong whipping of the arm and a good wrist snap resulting in a higher velocity.

    • 3

      Step straight towards home plate with your rear foot in a long powerful stride. By stepping directly towards home plate, you will increase the velocity of your pitch as well as your control.

    • 4

      Whip your arm through the final third of your rotation. This whipping action will cause your shoulder to close while your arm is still moving downward which, Warner says, will result in a higher pitch velocity. According to Warner, whipping your arm through the release of the ball gives you the best chance to increase your velocity.

    • 5

      Keep your fingers behind the ball. Keeping your fingers behind the ball, using a three-finger grip, increases the speed of your pitch since your fingers drive the ball through your release. The velocity of your pitch will decrease if your fingers are on the side of the ball.

    • 6

      Stay tall through the release and snap your shoulders back after delivering the pitch. By staying tall you will get the most velocity from your pitches as possible.