PITCHING Mechanics Rise Ball Drop Ball Change Up Curve Speed Control

BUILDING SPEED By: Bill Hudson Following is a list of methods I have used to increase speed: · Throwing into a fence or net at close range (5 or 6 feet) as hard as she can, concentrating on accelerating arm swing, wrist snap and leg drive. To make this drill even better, put a strike zone on the fence to practice hitting the corners. · If you are not getting good leg drive with the windmill delivery, I suggest you practice some using the slingshot style. This style requires a very strong leg drive. Now go back to the windmill delivery and practice the same leg drive. · Practice arm speed drills. Stand with left shoulder facing the fence. Make three arm revolutions with each revolution faster than the preceding one. On the third revolution, pick up the right foot and stride towards the fence throwing the ball as hard as you can, using a strong leg drive. · Use weighted ball. You use this method primarily to strengthen the wrist. The ball is pitched in a lobbing manner with the emphasis on the wrist snap. · I strongly suggest distance pitching with a regular ball. There are various ways to practice distance pitching. My favorite way is to: A. Do the distance pitching after the normal pitching practice when the pitcher is tired. This in effect causes an overload and will strengthen the muscles. B. Start pitching from the normal distance and take two steps back after every pitch. This continues until you are in the outfield, then you start back in, two steps at a time. (This method creates a challenge for the girls to keep increasing the distance they can throw the ball). When she gets back to the regular pitching distance, she pitches 5 or 10 more fast balls as hard as she can. Note: I have my students do this drill using a wrist snap similar to the rise ball wrist snap to strengthen the wrist.