Tips for Pitching a Softball

Stance

• A basic key is staying upright at all times. A pitcher can tend to bend over when trying to throw too hard. When a pitcher bends over, a pitch will tend to go higher than the target. If a pitcher is leaning past vertical, the pitch will likely go lower than the target.

Motion

• A pitcher can tend to extend a motion with added movement before the pitch. The best pitch is a clean, compact pitch, leaving out any added motion. When a pitcher steps onto a rubber, she should take the ball out of the glove to present it to the batter, then put the ball back into the glove to begin the motion. There should be no added motion in between because the additions will allow a pitcher to tire easier with useless movements.

Momentum

• Once a pitcher has developed a consistent fast ball, the next step is to build an off-speed pitch or a changeup. The changeup should be 15 to 20 mph slower than the fastball and can be used to keep batters off-balance. A pitcher should develop a fastball and changeup before working on other pitches, as they are the basics of softball pitching at all levels. Developing other pitches such as the dropball, riseball, curveball or screwball before the fastball and changeup could cause injury in the future.

Technique

• Consistency comes from learning the basics and having solid technique. The same goes for pitching. A pitcher who has learned correct techniques will be able to extend her time in the circle. When an athlete gets tired, the first thing to go usually is the basic forms. A pitcher with solid technique (standing up straight, following through) will be able to finish a game stronger and have better consistency.

Velocity

• A young pitcher must remember the speed of the pitch doesn't just come from the arm circle. Instead, it comes from the entire process. A fast arm circle but a slow rotation of the hips will cause a slower pitch. For a pitch to have the top speed possible, the hips must turn with velocity, the arm circle must be solid and quick-paced, and the wrist should be actively flicking the ball off the fingers toward the target.

Keep It Down

• Learn to keep the ball down at all times. A pitch that is over the plate at the hips of a batter can be easily taken out of the park, so making sure a pitcher can hit the lower part of the strike zone is key.

Staying in control

• Do not take a pitch off. It only takes one pitch over the plate for a batter to hit a home run. Staying in control of each batter is crucial. Getting down in the count is a huge advantage for a batter because she is forced to throw the ball near the strike zone. Throwing a first-pitch strike will allow a batter to be able to control the rest of the pitches in the sequence.