I thought id write a brief article discussing the ups, downs, and everything inbetween of what happened this fallwinter with my throwers here at prime performance. How to teach beginners the windmill fastpitch sportsrec. Take a stance on the rubber with your feet a shoe width apart plus one inch. Biceps activity during windmill softball pitching nikhil verma, md. Ive had professional pitching instruction, arm problems, success as a pitcher, have a son who is a good youth pitcher, who also has had arm. In this series, were going to break down some things that affect pitching mechanics and how we approach teaching mechanics, because we dont see pitching. The pitcher starts at half her normal pitching distance from the catcher, and throws a few strikes. September 19, 2018 josh boggs pitching articles leave a comment on why your bicep hurts by josh boggs this has become a theme with the throwers ive been working with inhouse at prime performance and is a very common question i receive on twitter. Even a slight change in style can dramatically affect the accuracy of the pitch, so pitchers and coaches should watch for any changes due to fatigue, injury, compensation, or desire for better results. A pitching campclinic is a great place to start to give your beginning softball pitcher a basic feel for the pitching mechanics, but ultimately, pursuing a good pitching coach that you feel is knowledgeable and has a good relationship with your pitcher is definitely crucial to her success.
Jan 29, 2015 the pitching distance drill this drill is for pitchers needing to improve or practice control and accuracy. Feb 28, 2020 this video shows you what powerful, efficient fastball mechanics look like in a stepbystep way. Add to their player website send to college coaches and scouts hand out at camps they attend include in team. However, if doing so messes up your posture and timing. With a strong work ethic and amazing pitching coaches growing up, especially one who taught me some of the best fast pitch mechanics from age 9, it can most definitely happen.
Your drag foot in your pitch is a critical part to supply power through the end of your pitch. Jun 23, 2018 i recently came across an article called the three little pigs and softball pitching and it got me thinking about how fastpitch softball pitching mechanics have advanced over the past couple of decades. We start most softball players off with a 15lb weight if theyre new to the exercise. Softball pitching mechanics 101 softball spot fastpitch. The pitcher starts at half her normal pitching distance from the catcher, and throws a. Appropriate pitching mechanics that produce a high release speed, over. The first pitch every fast pitch softball player should learn is the fastball because its the foundation for other pitches. Posture and core stability internal rotation brush trigger arm whip. With the increased participation also comes the increased injury susceptibility.
The fastpitch softball pitching motion has been regarded as one of the most difficult motions to perform in sports. Unfortunately, the common misconception about the dynamic 360 windmill softball pitch, that it is a natural motion and thus does not cause stress on the shoulder, deterred investigation into pitching mechanics until. When teaching softball pitching mechanics, the best way to avoid injury, develop consistency, and see results is through repetition and attention to detail. Once a player can do 45lbs for 10 reps, we then progress them to the. Move pitching arm to height of back swing and apply resistance with opposite hand. Apr 28, 2014 fastpitch softball pitching tips for beginners 0 shares share on facebook share on twitter as a parent or coach of a new fastpitch softball pitcher, you may find pitching tips for a beginner. Nov 19, 2018 participation rates in fastpitch softball are continually on the rise, especially in youth. Nov 19, 2014 personal stories are the marrow of sports and one of the best stories i know is angela tinchers.
Despite being the 2008 college player of the year and being third among division 1 alltime. The following specific drills may be useful for coaches andor pitchers as a source of reference for methods to help change or adjust various mechanical pitching faults. Biomechanics of windmill softball pitching with implications. Hold a book or other weight in the pitching hand try official weighted arm. As pitching injuries in softball are on the rise, more attention is needed into the mechanics of the windmill softball pitch and injury implications. The correct pitching techniques for fastpitch softball. Fastpitch power is a fully integrated online training resource for fastpitch softball teams, coaches, and players of all levels. Apr 06, 2015 fastpitch softball tv network free fastpitch softball videos, fastpitch softball blogs, fastpitch softball clinics, and softball drills. Mechanics of pitching grip as with most parts of pitching, there is no right or wrong way to hold the ball.
They are often simplified, for a number of reasons, down to a degree where they can lose meaning. The fastpitch softball pitching form is one of the most difficult movements for the body to learn. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means. Personal stories are the marrow of sports and one of the best stories i know is angela tinchers. I recently came across an article called the three little pigs and softball pitching and it got me thinking about how fastpitch softball pitching mechanics have advanced over the past couple. The basic mechanics of the fastpitch pitching form michele smith. Build rocksolid pitching mechanics, to dominate opponents from the mound and win games for your team quickly improve your control, so you can locate your fastball, changeup, and breaking pitches. Ultimate softball pitching drills ebook softball spot. To get the back leg in the proper position is an important part to pay attention to and practice so that your shoe laces never point towards centerfield and you can gain speed by accelerating your back leg drag by being on your toe the whole time, and not letting your heel drag on the ground. Softball pitching mechanics what you need to know to help. Ultimate softball pitching drills takes all the guesswork out of coaching pitchers by giving you a clear and logical training routine. As an affirmation of my commitment to fastpitch pitching excellence i will encourage and instruct in efficient and safe pitching mechanics. How to swing a fastpitch bat properly with michele smith. The pitcher then backs up to another designated line, about 10 feet behind the first, throwing a few strikes again.
This book is created to shed some light on the biomechanics of the fastpitch pitching motion so there is a full understanding of how the body throws the ball. December 31, 20 your drag foot in your pitch is a critical part to supply power through the end of your pitch. Youll get fast results with any pitcher and any level, from little league to high school and beyond. Pdf kinematics and kinetics of elite windmill softball pitching. Biomechanics of youth windmill softball pitching fastpitch. Pitch mechanics 101 turning throwers into pitchers. Softball pitching mechanics what you need to know to. An effective pitching motion is dictated by an intricate relationship of increasing the speed of body segments speed starting from the ground up. Your job as a coach is to help your pitcher develop good mechanics before moving on. Therefore, it was the purpose of this current opinion paper to shed light on what is known about youth softball pitching and injury. A pitching campclinic is a great place to start to give your beginning softball pitcher a basic feel for the pitching mechanics, but ultimately, pursuing a good pitching coach that you feel is knowledgeable and. Kinematic parameters related to pitching mechanics and resultant kinetics on the throwing shoulder were calculated. Fastpitch softball tv network free fastpitch softball videos, fastpitch softball blogs, fastpitch softball clinics, and softball drills. This fast pitch player profile template will help your players recruit for college.
However, data are limited describing youth pitching mechanics. Each drill is designed to isolate a very specific technique within the various segments and sequences of the pitching motion. Normative data describing pitching mechanics in the two youngest. Softball pitchers use an underhand motion that is not as stressful to the shoulder joint as the overhand pitch used in baseball. Both elite pitchers shown keep the pitching arm close to the ear as the pitching arm is brought up and around and both brush their hip prior to release of the. Below is a list of foundational building blocks that will be a. Build rocksolid pitching mechanics, to dominate opponents from the mound and win games for your team. More than just free fastpitch softball videos, and softball. Thirtyfour fastpitch softball pitching drills from. I started pitching my sophomore year in high school, but it took me three years of throwing yearround to truly grasp an understanding of the motion. Only after youve perfected your fastball technique and youre able to throw it where you. However, if doing so messes up your posture and timing, you will actually lose speed.
Today, were going to talk about some of the basic mechanics and fundamentals. Softball pitching drills softball players fastpitch softball softball quotes softball stuff wesley college softball decorations baseball tips team activities. This video shows you what powerful, efficient fastball mechanics look like in a stepbystep way. Nov 16, 2018 fastpitch softball is a game that is dominated by pitching. We offer both in person and virtual training options, in which we teach a proven. For someone under 6 ft tall or 510 or even 58, to throw in the upper 60s, youre going to have to have solid mechanics, especially with the lower half of. Pitching mechanics are possibly the most hot topic you can talk about in baseball. Pitchers can throw the ball at speeds up to 70 mph and they can also throw drops, risers, curves and changeups. The basic mechanics of the fastpitch pitching form t. Below is a list of foundational building blocks that will be a staple of my instructional methods. Ive had professional pitching instruction, arm problems, success as a pitcher, have a son who is a good youth pitcher, who also has had arm problems, and recovered only to be better. The non pitching arm also makes a contribution to the force of the pitch. How to turn fastpitch softball hitting mechanics into a high level baseball swingcan it be done. Ive been in and seen most every situation in regards to pitching and pitching instruction.
Fastpitch softball pitching tips for beginners stack. It is a very complex motion that requires years of study and practice to perfect. Since the first olympics in 1996, the sport of softball has truly grown. We offer both in person and virtual training options, in which we teach a proven approach to windmill pitching backed by research in softball an all athletic movements. Move pitching arm through power phase of motion to point about shoulder height in front. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Softball pitching mechanics and fundamentals necessary for. It is a very complex motion that requires years of study and.
The purpose of this study was to examine pitching mechanics in little league softball pitchers and examine the relationship of these mechanics and participant. Start light, learn the form, then progress over time. Can fastpitch softball hitting mechanics be equal to baseball. Softball pitching is the most important skill in the game of softball, as the pitcher can dominate as no other player is able to do. If youd like the downloadable pdf that accompanies this video, you can request it by emailing me. She has a wealth of knowledge from her years of experience as a professional fastpitch. A fastball that reaches 70 mph thrown from a distance of 46 feet corresponds to a baseball thrown at better than 90 mph. In order to achieve maximum pitching velocity, its important to push as hard as you can off the pitching rubber and get the most out of your stride. Fastpitch softball is a game that is dominated by pitching. The occurrence of injury to softball pitchers has also prompted the investigation of muscle firing pat terns during the windmill fast pitch motion 1 5. The following specific drills may be useful for coaches andor pitchers as a source of reference for methods to help change or adjust various mechanical pitching. Watch the video to learn how to be aggressive without sacrificing your pitching mechanics. Softball pitching is the most important skill in the game of softball, as the pitcher can dominate the game as no other player is able to do. Fastpitch power softball drills, windmill pitching.
The biomechanics handbook for fastpitch pitching mechanics. Pitching mechanics can be described as a coordinated sequence of body movements and muscular forces that have an ultimate goal of high ball velocity and target accuracy. Most softball leagues and sanctioning associations require girl pitchers to approach the pitching rubber from behind the side away from the batter to prepare for a pitch. What do we know about youth softball pitching and injury. Toe is parallel with the pitching plate and perpendicular to the direction of the pitch. Participation rates in fastpitch softball are continually on the rise, especially in youth. Fastpitch pitching mechanics analysis amanda scarborough.
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