How to Throw a Softball Pitch

Elite softball pitchers can throw pitches over 100 kilometers (over 60 miles) an hour and cause the ball to rise, drop, curve and move sporadically. Natural height and strength can work to a pitcher's advantage, contributing to a larger arc and whip action in windmills, but height and strength are not the only factors that affect the speed, accuracy and trajectory of pitches. Effective softball pitchers learn fundamental softball pitching techniques and footwork, and they practice.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball
  • Pitching mound
  • Plate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your position on the mound. Stand on the rubber of the mound on the power line (the straight line from the middle of the pitching rubber to the middle of the plate) with your feet together, and your toes facing the plate.

    • 2

      Grip the ball for the pitch you want to throw. A four-seam grip is commonly used by novice pitchers to throw the fastball; advanced pitchers typically use a two-seam grip or a three-finger grip to throw fastballs as well as risers and drop balls. A horseshoe grip is common for change-ups and a palm or knuckle grip can be effective for knuckle balls.

    • 3

      Wind-up for the pitch. Starting with your left and right arms straight down the sides of your body, and with the ball in your pitching hand, lift your glove arm straight out in front of your body (or slightly to the side) and simultaneously bring your pitching arm back in a straight line one to two feet past your hip.

    • 4

      Approach the plate. If you are a right-handed pitcher, drive hard off the rubber of the mound, pushing on your right leg and stepping forward with your left leg. Place your left foot down at a 30 to 45 degree angle from the plate. Some coaches teach the “leap and drag” approach where pitchers hop a distance of six steps toward the plate and drag their support leg forward as they do so. Proponents of this approach argue that it creates more momentum and power through the pitch, and it gets you closer to the batter at the point of release, which gets your pitch to the plate faster.

    • 5

      Windmill your pitching arm. As you are approaching the plate, bring your pitching arm forward in a straight line from its position behind your hip, over your shoulder and around to the side of your thigh, creating a 380 degree arc. Bend your elbow only slightly through this movement and focus on whipping the arm around with the muscles and ligaments around your shoulder–deltoid, rotator cuff--rather than with your biceps and forearm.

    • 6

      Snap your wrist and release the ball between the middle of your thigh and your hip. The more you snap your wrist, the more spin and velocity you will typically produce; to throw an off-speed pitch you may snap your wrist less, or you may choose to pop it out of your hand rather than snap it out.

    • 7

      Follow through. After you have released the ball, follow through by allowing your driving leg to leave the rubber of the mound, and snap kick it behind your leading leg to the "figure four" position; the knee of your driving leg should be in line with your right foot (on a 30 to 45 degree angle from the plate) and your calve should be horizontal to the ground. Your hips should also be in line with the angle of your left foot and right knee (30 to 45 degrees) and your back should be arched slightly backwards.