Softball Tips

If you want to be a good pitcher, then consistency in your performance should be one of your assets. Why? That’s because consistency makes you dependable on the field. And if you’re dependable, you’ll get more playing time and you can give more wins to your team.

But how can you be a consistent pitcher? It takes more than just your skills to be one. You also need the right amount of discipline, drills and practice to take you there.

Here are some things that you should remember if you want to be a consistent pitcher:

1.       Warm up – a lot of players forego warm ups thinking that it’s just a total waste of time. If you’re among these group of players, try to perform warm ups before a game.

I’m not just talking about bobbing your head or flailing your arms like crazy. Do real warm ups. Ask your coach about it or find more warm up tips on this site. Once you’re done, see the difference it makes to your game.

2.       Nail the fundamentals – once you see your favorite pitcher on TV or live on the field, you’ll most likely try to emulate what he or she does. But try as you might, you don’t seem to get it right.

Want to know their secret? More than just their natural skills, their knowledge of the fundamental pitching mechanics also plays an important role in their game. As they often say, walk before you run. Learn the fundamental skills first, refine it as you get better.

3.       Vary your pitches – although we’re talking about being consistent with your pitching here, you must also be able to vary your pitches depending on the situation you’re faced with. Many pitchers strive to pitch fast, but it’s not always needed in the game. Have a complete arsenal of pitches – from fast balls to curve balls – and use each depending on what the situation calls for.

Another benefit of varying your pitches is that it can have a psychological impact on the opposing batter who doesn’t know what you’re going to throw him or her next.

4.       Learn to make the necessary adjustments – no matter what tips you get from me, your coach, or somebody else, there will come a situation that you are not prepared to face. It could be an extended game or a change in your opponent’s strategy. Whatever that is, you should learn to adjust to that situation and give it your best shot.

5.       Allow yourself to commit errors – don’t let the fear of committing errors affect your game. You will have your good share of off days and you shouldn’t blame yourself for that. Instead, look at those instances as opportunities to refine your pitching better. Try to analyze what happened and see how you can prevent it from occurring again.

 

If you really want to be a consistent pitcher and help your team win more games, then the softball pitching tips I have listed above for you will surely come in handy. You might not learn all of them right away but give them time to grow on you and see the difference they make in your game.

Softball pitching is one of the most important things that a softball player must learn and develop. Years of training is needed in order for you to develop your skills in pitching. The first thing that you should do is to learn about pitching, learn it from its basics. After that, practice all the things that you have learn, try to do them so that you will get used to it. And then, develop a good pitching mechanics afterwards.

Throwing strikes is not really important so don’t bother yourself thinking about it too much. Instead, learn to do things properly and make sure that everything is in its proper place. Speed is essential in pitching so you must also learn that skill. Focus first on the proper way of doing pitching and don’t worry about being accurate because in the long run if you already know how to pitch properly then you can finally work on your accuracy and throwing strikes.

Try to do some warm ups before practicing. Jog, stretch, and do some pre-pitching routines to lose some tight muscles. Presentation is also important in pitching although it doesn’t have anything to do with pitching mechanics. It is always important to show the hitter that you are already holding the ball and any moment you will be ready to pitch.

Stance is also an essential area in softball pitching. Position yourself on a pitching rubber where you are comfortable. Be confident, stand tall, shoulders back, feet far apart (in order for you to balance), hands must be at your side, and muscles on the upper body must be relaxed.

There is no proper or improper way on how a pitcher must hold the ball but the way a pitcher grips a ball is of great magnitude. But then, 4-seam grip is recommended by a lot of experts. If you are preparing to start your motion, it will be wiser if you try to visualize everything first. Visualize where the ball will drop when you throw it.

The pitcher’s stride should also be given importance in softball pitching. It is said that pitchers with longer and faster stride throws better. In releasing the ball, you must remember some pointers. You must keep your wrist back; keep your arm outstretched, your fingers must be behind the ball, stay tall during the release, and last but not the least, you must keep your shoulders level.