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Pitching Tips -
Getting Arms In Shape
As far as throwing, it is good for pitchers to start out by throwing for 10 minutes a couple of times a week. These throwing sessions should start out with playing catch for 2-3 minutes at a short distance, stretching out for a few minutes of long toss up to 180 feet (more or less depending on the age), moving back in closer and throwing 25 or 30 fastballs at full speed. After a couple of weeks a 40-pitch bullpen session can be incorporated into the weekly routine as well with the pitcher mixing in all of his pitches. Duration and number of pitches involved in these sessions should increase as the season approaches. Drills from shortened distances, such as the power position and knee drills, are good to mix into the throwing sessions as well. They help the pitcher's muscles remember the proper mechanics of throwing and can help prevent injury.
Throwing The Two-seam Fastball
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The two-seam fastball is designed to create movement. For a right-handed pitcher, the pitch should move in toward a right-handed batter and away from a lefty. Instead of holding the ball across the seams, the pitcher holds the two-seam fastball with the seams. The mechanics of this pitch are exactly the same as with the four-seam fastball. Pitchers should be careful not to come around the ball or turn it over. The pitch should be thrown with a natural motion and delivery, allowing the rotation of the seams to take over and to cause the ball to move.
| Throwing The Four-seam Fastball |
Strike one is the best pitch in baseball. The four-seam fastball is the easiest pitch to control in baseball. So it follows that for all pitchers the four-seam fastball should be relied on and perfected. For younger players this is the pitch that should be thrown over and over to develop the arm strength necessary to experiment with other types of pitches and become successful at higher levels. To throw the four-seam fastball correctly, the ball should be gripped so that two fingers (pointer and index fingers) cross the two seams that form the "horseshoe" of the baseball. The fingers should not be too far apart or the pitcher will lose velocity. The ball should be held lightly in the fingers as if the pitcher was holding an egg. The thumb should be underneath the ball. If the pitcher is getting side-to-side movement when throwing the four-seamer, check the thumb placement first. If the thumb is "creeping" up the side of the ball, make sure the pitcher moves it back underneath. The four-seam fastball should travel straight. As pitchers begin to throw harder it will seem to rise or hop as the ball approaches homeplate. Because the four-seam grip allows for maximum control, it is the grip that should be used by all fielders when making throws during the course of a game.
Hitting Tips -
Weight Shift
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| Every successful hitter has some sort of a weight shift. All we mean by a weight shift is a gathering of energy to the back side before transferring it forward and through the swing. To help younger players remember this, we like to say, "You have to go back to go forward." Think of a boxer pulling his fist back and gathering his energy before punching an opponent or a cobra coiling up and pulling back before striking. It's no different with a baseball swing. Some players, such as Sammy Sosa and Derek Jeter, have a more exaggerated weight shift than others. But, all successful hitters do shift their weight back before transferring it forward. We like to use the tee drill, where the ball is stationary and easy to hit, to focus primarily on developing good weight shift. | |
The Grip
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| Many young players think it is best to grip the bat tightly. They really squeeze the life out of it, which causes tension in their muscles. To be a sucessful hitter you must be relaxed at the plate. If you are tense your reflexes tend to be slower and your range of motion is limited. The bat should be gripped loosely in the fingers with the knuckles that you use to knock on a door aligned. Gripping the bat in this manner unlocks the wrists, creating greater bat speed. It seems as though young players think that by gripping the bat tightly they may eliminate some of the sting that can occur when a ball is hit or that they will be less likely to lose control of the bat. The fact is that the fingers and hands will tighten up automatically as the bat is swung. Remember, grip the bat loosely in the fingers and line up the "door knocking knuckles." | |
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