Basics of Pitching Mechanics in Fast-Pitch Softball

Pitching in fast-pitch softball is done in a unique way, as pitchers wind up and fling the ball forward underhanded, using the momentum of their bodies and the strength of their arms to give the softball a maximum velocity when they throw it. There are a variety of basic techniques that beginning softball pitchers should learn as they practice and play the game.

  1. Stance

    • Stance is important when preparing for your wind-up and pitch, as it will affect your timing and the mechanics of your pitch in general. The pitcher's shoulders should be back and relaxed, and the pitcher should stand up straight on the pitching rubber. Make sure the front push-off foot is in contact with the rubber when you begin the wind-up and that the back foot drags along the ground and is in contact with the rubber when you release the pitch. Leagues like the NCAA have become very strict about how pitchers throw the ball; the pitcher must not leap off the ground or the rubber when delivering the ball.

    Pitching Motion

    • The typical softball pitching motion consists of bringing the ball up a little higher then your eyes and then bringing the ball back behind you underhand on a backswing, before flinging it forward with your arm or your body. For beginning pitchers, simply bringing the ball back on the backswing as far as you feel comfortable is the best way to start. The farther you bring the ball back, the more speed it should have when you fling it forward, though the control and accuracy may become more unpredictable. Once you get the hang of the pitching motion, try to bring the ball back on your back swing to where it is almost perpendicular to your body.

    Weight Transfer and Push-Off

    • As you do your backswing and start moving your arm forward, your body will naturally follow. However, the more you drive your body forward off the pitcher's mound and rubber, the more velocity you will add to the pitch as your arm comes forward, giving you a faster pitch that is more difficult for the batter to hit. The step you take of the rubber with your lead foot is called the push-off and the stronger this is, the faster your pitch usually is, so that you are throwing with your whole body and not just your arm. This motion may take some getting used to. Strong legs and shoulders are ideal for pitching a softball.