Pitching
MainPoints
1.Feet-takeasmallstepbackwithnon-throwingsidefoot,keepingtheweight
overthestationaryfoot,whichisturnedparallelandtouchingtherubber
2.BalancePosition-non-throwingsidelegcomesup,isatwaistlevel,torsois
slightlyforwardsothattheweightiscenteredoverthepivotfoot.
3.PowerPosition(PowerTPosition)-handabovetheball,taketheballdown
outofthegloveandup(circularmotion)asthefrontfootstridestoward
home
plate.
4.Rotation-handgoesfromabovetheballtobehinditasthereleasepointis
approached;elbowisabovetheshoulder.
5.Follow-through-endupinagoodfieldingposition;thefollow-throughtakes
careofitselfifmechanicsarecorrect;don’tbetoopickyaboutaperfect
follow-throughiftheresultsareconsistent.
Pitching101~DonCampbell
I.
II.
III.
Introduction
a. Whyteachmechanics
b. Mechanicsis#2pitchingfactor
c. Improvemechanics/improvecontrol
PitchingMechanics
a. Grips
b. 3phasesofwindup
1. Starttobalance
a. Smallstepback
b. Forearmsparalleltoground
c. Liftkneeupandback
d. Kneeandbackbent
2. Balancetorelease
a. Separatehandsfirst
b. Thumbsdown,armsextended
c. Straightlinewithfoottoground
d. Toeslightlyclosed
3. Releasetofollow-through
a. Thumbsup
b. Spinevertical
c. Sturnumoverfrontknee
d. Show3rdbasemanspikes
e. Donnotcrossmidline
f. Finishwithhandlow,backparallel
g. Samelandingspoteverytime,bothfeet
c. Pitchingfromstretch/set
i. Forearmsparallel,awayfrombody
ii. Feet12inchesapart
iii. Pullkneeupandbacktoedgeofrubber
iv. Straightlinetolandingspot
Pitchingthoughts
ACurve,slider,change
B.Longtoss
C.Bullpens
D.Pitchcounts
ThingstorememberaboutPitching:
1. Goodpitchingwillbeatgoodhitting–A..400hitterisconsideredverygood
andhestillfails60%ofthetime
2. Freepasses–walksandhitbatters-arelikebasehits.Keepyournumbers
(walks,hits,andhitbatters)downtoanaverageofoneperinningandyou
willdojustfine.
3. Thehittergetsworsethedeeperhegetsbehindthecount–Stayahead!
4. Itmaybetheonlyteamsportplayedwhereonepersoncancontrolthewhole
game.
5. Developasmanypitchersasyoucan.Youneverknowwhowillstillbethere
whentheygetolder.
6. Achange-upcanbethemostdevastatingpitchinbaseball,butthereis
nothingthatbeatsawelllocatedfastball.
7. Don’toveruseyourpitchers!Anarmhasonlysomuchmileagebeforeit
wearsout.
8. Makesurethatyourpitchersgettogetheranddiscusshowtheycangetout
hitters.Twomindsarebetterthanone,anditkeepsthemthinkingaboutthe
game.
9. Haveyourpitchersthrowfromthestretch.Themostimportantpitchesinthe
tightestsituationscomefromthestretch.
10. Don’twasteagoodbullpenorpre-gamebyjustthrowingwithoutthinking.
Workonlocationandpitches.Isagreattimetodevelopyourgameandraise
thelevelofperformance.
11. Reflectonyourperformanceafteryouhavethrown.Pickstrengthsand
weaknesses.
12. Ifhittingistiming,thenpitchingisthedisruptionoftiming.Makethehitters
hityourpitchandallowyourfielderstomakeplaysforyou.
13. Don’teverlookatanumpireinawaythatisnegative.Don’tquestionhisball
strikecalls.Letyourcatcherdothisforyou.Youmayneedthemaninblue
laterinthegame.
14. Teachaleftytowearhishatcorrectlyandnevergiveupononeasapitcher.
Theymightsurpriseyou.
Pitching–TrainingBetweenStarts
Day1
Pitch
Bands:Shoulderroutine
Sprints:4–15yard,4–20yard,4–60yard
Lift:Upperbody,Lateralraises,Frontalraises,Triceps,Biceps,Reversecurls,Wrist
curls
Day2
Throw:Light10-20minutes
Sprints:4–15yard,4–20yard,4–60yard
Lift:Lowerbody,Squat,Straightlegdeadlift,Hamstringcurls,Mediceneballslams,
Kettlebell,Calfraises
Abs:125
Day3
Throw:10-15minutes&5-10minutelongtoss
Sprints:4-15yards,4-30yards,4-40yards,4-60yards
Abs:200
Day4
Bullpen:30-40pitches–simulatedinnings,counts,stretch&situations
Bands:Shoulderroutine
Sprints:4–15yard,4–20yard,4–60yard
Lift:Upper/Lower,Lunges,Step-ups,Hangclean,Push-ups,DIR,DER,Pull-ups
Abs:125
Day5
Throw15-25minutes
Day6
Pitch
One-KneeDrill
Objective
Tointroduceplayerstoproperthrowingmechanics,particularlyarmaction(getting
theballdown,out,andup)
Setup
Twoplayers(oraplayerandacoach)andabaseball
Execution
Thisdrillbreaksdowntheplayer’sarmactionandworksonkeepingtheelbowat
theproperlevel.Playersdroptheirthrowing-sidekneetothegroundwiththe
oppositekneeupandplaycatchatashortdistanceusingafour-seamgriptothrow.
Concentrateontakingtheballdown,out,andupfromthegloveandkeepingthe
elbowabovetheshoulder.Thehandisontopoftheballasit’stakenoutofthe
glove,shiftingtobehindtheballasthearmcomesforward.Playersdon’tthrow
hard.Havethemchecktheirgrip,hand,andelbowpositionafterbringingtheball
down,out,andup.Handshouldbeontopoftheballwithfingerspointingaway
fromthetargetjustbeforethearmcomesforward.Fromthere,theplayerpointsthe
frontshouldertowardthetarget,rotatesthehips,bringsthearmforward,and
releasestheball,keepingtheelbowabovetheshoulder.Youngerplayerscanuse
softbaseballsordothisdrillwiththeircoaches.
CoachingKeys
Manyyoungplayersturntheirhandsothatit’sundertheballbeforetheybringthe
armforward.Somepeoplecallthis“piethrowing”.Thinkofhowyouhavetoholda
pietothrowitatsomeone;thepalmisfacingupsothatyoudon’tdropthepie.This
istheoppositeofhowyoushouldthrowabaseball.Forplayerswhodothis,have
themstoptheirmotionjustbeforetheybringthearmforwardandchecktoseethat
thehandisontopoftheballandthattheballispointingstraightback.Otherplayers
willlettheirelbowsdropbelowshoulderlevelatthereleasepoint.Tofixthis
problem,trytheTeeDrill.
TeeDrill
Objective
Tohelpplayerslearntokeeptheelbowabovetheshoulderwhenthrowing
Setup
Twoplayers(oraplayerandacoach),battingtee,abaseball
Execution
Thisdrillhelpspreventplayersfromdroppingtheirelbowwhenthrowing.Players
assumeaone-kneeposition,asdescribedintheOne-KneeDrill.Abattingteeis
placedonthethrowingside,closeenoughsothatiftheelbowdropsithitsthetee.
Playerstaketheballdown,out,andup–checkingtheirgripasnecessarybefore
rotatingforwardandreleasingtheball.Thepresenceoftheteewillforceplayersto
consciouslythinkaboutnotdroppingtheelbowbelowshoulderlevel.Overtimethis
willdevelopmusclememorythatleadstoproperthrowingmechanics.
PowerPosition
Objective
Todevelopapropergripandarmaction
Setup
Twoplayers(oraplayerandacoach),baseballs,apitchingmound(optional)
Execution
Variationsofthisdrillcanbedoneatalllevels.Thedrillcanbesimplifiedforthe
youngestagegroupstostresswhichdirectiontofacewhenthrowing;theproper
four-seamgrip;gettingtheballdown,outandup;keepingthehandabovetheball
priortorotation;keepingtheelbowabovetheshoulder;pointingthefrontshoulder
towardthetarget;steppingtowardthetarget;andfollowingthrough.Forolderand
moreadvancedplayers,thedrillcanhelptroubleshootmechanicalproblemsoften
experiencedbypitchers.Playerscreateawidebasewiththeirfeetandholdtheball
withafour-seamgrip.Weightshiftstothebacksidebeforemovingforward.Hands
break,andtheweightgoesback.Powerpositionisassumed(checkasnecessary):
handabovetheballwithfingerspointedawayfromthetarget.Weightisback;
elbowisabovetheshoulder.Frontshoulderpointstowardthetarget.Handshifts
fromabovetheballtobehindtheballasthearmmovesforwardthroughrotation.
Ballisreleased(doesnothavetobethrownhard).Follow-throughtakesplacewith
thetrailfootstayingincontactwiththerubber.Playersrotateonthebackfootso
thehipsturn.Fronttoepointsforward.
CoachingKeys
ThePowerPositionDrillcanbeusedtotroubleshootthefollowingmechanical
flaws:
Short-arming.Startinthefinishpositionwiththethrowingarmextendedforward
asiffollowingthrough.Takeweightallthewaybackthroughthepowerposition
beforefinishingtostretchoutthethrowingmotion.
Gettingpitchesup.Havethecatchershortenupwiththepitcherthrowingfroma
mound.Tothrowdownhillfromthepowerposition,thepitchermustgettheelbow
upandstayontopoftheball.
Long-striders.Again,havethecatchershortenupwiththepitcherthrowingfroma
mound.Ifthestrideistoolongthepitcherwon’tbeabletocompensatetoget
downhillintimetothrowastrike.
Breakingballsoroff-speedpitches.Betweenstarts,pitchersstrugglingwiththeir
grips,mechanics,orcontrolcanpracticetheirbreakingballsandoff-speedpitches
fromthepowerpositiononoroffamoundfromashorteneddistancetogetabetter
feelandmakecorrections.
FourPitcherPickOffDrill
Objective
TeachPitcherspickoffmovesatallbases
Setup
Regularinfield(smallerinfieldcanbeused)
Execution
PitchingMechanics
TwoTheories:
“TallandFall”vs.“DropandDive”–WetendtousetheTallandFallmethodbecause
themechanicstendtobemoreconsistent.
3PhasesofPitching:
PhaseI
Starttobalance
A. gloveposition-takingsigns
B. rockerstep
C. backfootintorubber
D. balanceposition
E. handsaretogetheratornearchestslightlyawayfromthebody
Pointsofemphasis:
- RHsontherightsideoftherubber
- Rockerstepisshortandback-Itisthetimingdevicethatgetsmotiongoing
- Liftlegisparallel(orcloseto)ground
- BackfootturnsintorubberbeforePitchergetstobalance
- Frontfootshouldbeinarelaxedposition
- Frontfootstaysundertheknee
- Shouldersandbodyishunchedslightlyforward
- Backlegisflexed,yetfirm
PhaseII
BalancetoLanding
A. handsbreak
B. goalpostposition
C. liftlegkneegoestolandingpoint
D. frontfoothitsinastraightlinetotarget;toesareslightlyclosed
E. armpathgoesinadown,back,anduppath
Pointsofemphasis:
- Headislevelandeyesareontarget
- “Thumbsdown”
- Armpathmustgettoreleasepositionbythetimethefrontfoothits
- Liftlegdoesnotgettoohightocauseimproperbalance
- Frontfoothitsontheballsofthefeetratherthantheheel
- Armpathislongandfluid–ratherthanshortarm
- Landonflexedfrontleg
PhaseIII
LandingtoFollowThrough
A. hipandtorsorotation
B. armgetstoreleaseposition-armslot
C. upperbodyextendstowardstheplate
D. chestgetsoutoverthefrontleg
E. glovehasturnedovertopalmupposition
F. backlegliftsupandcomesthroughto2ndquadrant
Pointsofemphasis:
- frontelbowleadstogetmoreextension
- Armslot-elbowisparallelorslightlyabovetheshoulder
- Glovecomesslightlybackwhilechestextendsintotheglove
- “Lazyglove”vs.readytofieldposition
- Backisparalleltogroundafterthefollowthrough
- Armpathextendsacrossthefrontknee
- Keeptheheadas“quiet”aspossible
- Backfootliftsofftheground
PitchingDrills
RememberthatwhenPitchersworkonmechanicstheyshouldnotworkonlocation
atthesametime.Mechanicsarenotfocusingonresults,theyarefinetuningthe
processofdeliveringabaseball.
ArmActionDrills
A. Toweldrills
1. Balancetofollowthrough
2. Frontfoot
3. Fullmechanics
B. ArmPath/Wrist
1. Wristsnaps
2. Shortlever
3. Longlever
DryMechanicDrills
A. MassPitchers
1. PhaseI,PhaseII,PhaseIII
2. Eyesclosed-balancetofollowthrough
3. Eyesclosed-fullwindupandstretch
4. Walldrill
PartnerDrills
A. Oneknee-shouldertoshoulder
1. Fastball
2. Change-up
B. Shouldertoshoulderrotation-standing
C. Strideout
1. Throwing
2. Reaching
D. Partnerhandling
1. Balance-catch-throw
2. Reachingback
3. Knee-stride
E. Chairdrills
1. Frontleg
2. Backleg
F. Otherdrills
1. Pickupthehandkerchief(dollarbill)
2. Backsidemoundwork
Pitchers-BackUpBases
Teachyourpitcherstobackupabaseonallplays.Thereisnoplayinbaseball
whereplayersshouldbestandingaroundafterabasehit.Youhavetoreinforcethisbecause
sometimesapitcherwillhanghisheadwhenhegivesupahitandhewon’thustletothe
spotwhereheshouldbe.
Theproperpositionforaplayathomeplateisbehindtheplate,asdeepaspossible
anddirectlyinlinewiththethrow.Usethethirdandfirstbasemenforcutoffsonthrowsto
theplate.Theirpositionisontheinfieldgrassinlinewiththethrowandthecatcher.Ifa
ballishittotheleftfield,thethirdbasemanisthecutoffman.Thefirstbasemanisthecutoff
onallotherthrowstotheplate.
Theexceptioniswhenthereisarunneronfirstbaseandaballishitdeepinthe
left/right-centerfieldgap.Themiddleinfieldersgoouttoformadoublerelayandthethird
basemanmuststayathometocoverhisbase.Thefirstbasemanbecomesthecutoff.
Hereareapitcher’sresponsibilitiesforbackingupbases:
•Singletoleftorcenterfieldwithnooneonbase-backsupsecondbaseindirectlinewith
outfieldthrow.
•Singletorightfieldwithnooneonbase-apitcher’sfirstreactionshouldbetohustleto
firstbaseincaseofaplaythere.
•Singletotheoutfieldwitharunneronfirstbase-backsupthirdbaseinlinewiththe
throwfromtheoutfield,asdeeplyaspossible.TheSSisthecutoffmaninthissituation.He
willbestationedapproximately60feetfromthirdbaseinlinewiththethrow.
•Singletotheoutfieldwitharunneronsecondbaseandtryingtoscore-backsuphomein
directlinewiththethrow.
•Allextrabasehitswithnooneonbasebacksupthebasewhereballwillbethrown.
•Extrabasehitwitharunneronfirstbase-becomesafloater.Thepitchershouldhustletoa
spothalfwaybetweenthirdandhomeandthenhustlestobackupthebasewheretheball
willbethrown.Thisplayshouldbedrilledinpractice.Ittakessometimingandskill.
Pitchersshouldalwayshustlewithcontrolledspeedtotheirbackuppositions
(Beingundercontrolhelpsyoutoreactatthepropertime.)Theyshouldgetasdeepbehind
thebaseastheycanandstillbeinlinewiththethrow.Iftheyaretooclosetothebase,the
overthrowwillgetbythemtoo.Rememberonthebigfieldsthedugoutsareopen(nofence)
andwhenaballgoesintoit,therunner(s)getanextrabase.Thepitchermustdoeverything
inhispowertopreventthis.
Pitchersshouldgetoutoftheinfieldonallpossibleplaysattheplate.Otherwise
theyarecloggingthingsup.Teachthemtogowheretheyaresupposedtogo.Properback
upsbythepitchingstaffwillsaveyouarunortwointhecourseofaseason.Thesearesome
moreofthe‘littlethings’thatwinclosegames.
Severalyearsago,theLittleLeagueWorldSeriesendedwhenthepitchercuta
throwtotheplatefromtheleftfielderwhilestanding10feetINFRONTOFTHECATCHER.
Underpressure,apitcher(andallplayers)willinstinctivelydowhattheyhavepracticed.
LittleLeaguecoaches,haveyourpitchersgothecorrectpositionafterabasehit
witharunneronsecond.Iknowmanycoachesusetheirpitchersasthecut-off,butthat’s
notthecorrectwaytoteachthegame.ForgetthefactthatmostLittleLeaguepitchersare
thebestathletesonthefield.Teachthemthegamethewayitissupposedtobeplayedand
getyourotherplayersinvolved.Theseskillsarejustasimportantasproperthrowing
mechanicsandpickoffmoves.Theydefineatotalpitcher.