How to Teach Beginners the Windmill Fastpitch

The windmill pitch is the under-handed pitch commonly used in girls and women's softball. The pitch relies on the momentum generated from the circular motion of the ball being rotated around the body, the snap of the wrist and a thrust with the legs from the mound. The pitch has many components and there are many different approaches to learning and executing this pitch. There is not necessarily one right way to execute this pitch as the body mechanics are different for each pitcher. Yet, there are generally accepted basics that a coach can use to get their players on the right path to strike out innings.

Things You'll Need

  • Softball
  • Pitcher's mound
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Instructions

    • 1

      Learn the basic fast ball grip. This grip places the thumb on the opposite side of the other four fingers of the hand. You want your fingers fairly evenly and comfortably spaced and try to focus on maximizing the space that exists between the ball and the bottom of the palm of the pitchers hand.

    • 2

      Position your feet for power and speed. For right handers place your waist and hips facing roughly halfway between third base and home plate. Place your left foot in front of your right, leaving your right foot on the mound. Try to find a comfortable foot direction and position with the feet facing roughly halfway between third and home base.

    • 3

      Hold the softball in the fast ball grip and rotate your arm down towards the mound, continuing towards home plate, rotating above your head and then back behind you, continuing towards home plate.

    • 4

      As you rotate your arm around in the windmill pitch, thrust with your back foot off of the mound to create a thrust toward home plate.

    • 5

      With a snap of the wrist, release the soft ball off the fingertips of your hand. The pitch revolution should be lined up with the center of home plate.

    • 6

      Get into a fielding position with your legs in a slight squatting stance. Be ready to catch the ball or run after it if the softball is hit towards you.