How to Perfect Your Softball Fastpitch

Perfecting a softball pitch is all about commitment and work ethic. To become great, a pitcher must put in the time it takes to master the skill. She must be willing to work on the fundamentals, no matter how advanced she believes herself to be. Mastering the basics will allow her natural ability to shine through. Softball is an exciting game; it affords many opportunities for young girls and women to compete athletically.

Instructions

  1. Fundamentals

    • 1

      Place your index, middle and ring finger behind the ball. Drive through the pitch to increase power and speed.

    • 2

      Lean your body forward as you start the forward rotation of your arm. This transfers the weight to your push off leg so you can generate more force.

    • 3

      Push off strong from the pitching rubber. Your weight should transfer from the rear leg to your push-off leg. Driving your leg off of the push-off rubber allows your body to open as your arm rotates forward in the pitching motion.

    • 4

      Extend your stride forward in your pitching motion. Your foot should land as far as possible directly in front of the center of the pitching rubber, in line with home plate.

    • 5

      Whip your arm through the end of your pitching rotation. This will improve your pitching speed.

    • 6

      Snap your wrist forward as you release the ball. Doing this after an arm whip can increase the speed of the pitch by 3 to 5 mph.

    • 7

      Stand tall after you release the ball. Pull your shoulders back, straighten your upper body and push back with your forward leg to create resistance for the pitch.

    Drills

    • 8

      Practice pitching the ball from a distance. This can help increase speed and control.

    • 9

      Train with a weighted ball 1-1/2 to 2 ounces heavier than your normal ball. Throw no more than 20 pitches during practice warm-ups. This will increase speed and strength. You can also vary the training by pitching with a ball lighter than your regular ball.

    • 10

      Practice snapping your wrist at the end of pitches. Do this by keeping your pitching arm at your side and throw the ball only by snapping your wrist. Stand no more than 15 feet from the catcher when doing this.

    • 11

      Kneel on the ground with the knee on the same side as your pitching arm. Face your catcher and throw 25 to 30 balls at full speed.

    • 12

      Practice walking through your pitching motion after you release the ball. Start a few feet behind the pitching rubber. Approach the pitching rubber as you normally would. Throw the ball your normal way. After the ball is released, take a few steps toward the catcher. This develops leg speed, which translates into pitching speed.