What Muscles are Used in Pitching Softball?

Nearly all of the major muscle groups are used in softball pitching. The legs anchor the body and provide a base. The core helps to rotate the body and guide the power that is generated from the legs up. The arms, shoulders and back are directly responsible for the pitching motion. The primary muscles that move the arm through the pitching motion are the rotator cuff, the deltoid, and the latissimus dorsi.

  1. Rotator Cuff Muscles

    • The rotator cuff is formed by a group of shoulder muscles that guide the arm in the circular motion of pitching a softball. This motion generates speed and power on the pitch. These muscles are the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis.
      The primary job of the rotator cuff is to allow the functional movement of the humerus and scapula's ball and socket joint. In softball, this joint allows for the circular, wind-up motion that is necessary in softball. This movement is assisted by the bursa between the rotator cuff and the acromion which reduces the amount of friction.

    Deltoid

    • The deltoid is a major shoulder muscle located just above the the rotator cuff and forms the rounded flesh at the top of the shoulder. It passes over the shoulder joint by attaching to both the scapula and clavicle bones. It is responsible for both raising the arm and twisting it.
      In softball, the deltoid helps the rotator cuff raise the arm through the pitch. It is also responsible for raising the arm at the beginning of the pitching motion. The stronger the deltoid is, the quicker the arm moves through the pitching motion.

    Latissimus dorsi

    • The latissimus dorsi is one of the major muscles of the back. This muscle is broad and has origins that extend from the vertebrae to the ribs of the mid to low back. The muscle fibers run vertical and function much in the same way that the muscles of the arm do.
      This muscle has two main functions: adduction (drawing the arms to the body) and extension of the arms. Extension of the arms (raising the arms up) is the motion that concerns softball. As the arm is nearing the release point of the ball, it is being extended.