Softball Pitching Movement

[cnardone]

Paraphrasing Barry Bonds to Jenny Finch, "That ain't no curve. That is a damn slider" Softball curves are really more like a MLB slider than curve.

I'd argue that the better sliders (ie can be used against both lefties and righties) in MLB have LOTS of tilt. Guys with flat sliders are either Lefty / Righty specialists or only use the slider righty to right or lefty to lefty. Adam Ottavino's (just one example) slider is NASTY, but he can't get out a lefthander.

 

[ArmWhip]

I'm saying that the vertical movement pitchers should be learned first, then a change, and then the curve.

My approach is different. Once a girl has the basics mechanics down with her 'fastball' I will introduce a ball with big spots on it and we will start paying attention to how she spins the ball. Most of the time, for the fastball, they throw a slightly tilted version of top spin. Many of them will mix in a pitch with bullet spin but some will throw substantial side spin (curve). Whatever spin they naturally throw that's the one we cultivate, bullet or curve. We also try to straighten out the tilted top spin. I am always amazed at how they can go from top to curve and not feel any difference in how they threw the pitch.

 

[jfitch12]

My approach is different.

I can see the sense in this approach because most girls “fastballs” have some glove side run, so the progression is natural. But then when do you decide to introduce a rise, and how do you decide which students should focus on a rise, rather than a combination of true drop and curve?


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[ArmWhip]

I can see the sense in this approach because most girls “fastballs” have some glove side run, so the progression is natural. But then when do you decide to introduce a rise, and how do you decide which students should focus on a rise, rather than a combination of true drop and curve?


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That depends on the student, they all develop at different rates. They have to be 14U before I would consider the rise, up until about that age their hand/fingers aren't big enough. If they can throw a palm up moving the spin to rise is not a big jump. But honestly it's rare to find a girl who can generate any significant back spin, and if they do it usually has change up speed. They usually end up with a bullet spin pitch which works fine up in the zone.

 

[LW23]

I can see the sense in this approach because most girls “fastballs” have some glove side run, so the progression is natural. But then when do you decide to introduce a rise, and how do you decide which students should focus on a rise, rather than a combination of true drop and curve?


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There was a good topic on this at the recent NFCA convention. Top coaches in the field talked about different pitchers tendencies to dominate certain parts of the ball. My DD has always dominated the bottom of the ball. She took to the Rise really well. Drop was / is difficult for her. Its kind of who she is as a pitcher. Top 3 pitches are Rise, Change & Curve. She continues to work on her drop and it has improved a ton in the past 6 months. I equate the improvement more to mental maturity and understanding she needs to control the bottom of the zone as well.

 

[jfitch12]

There was a good topic on this at the recent NFCA convention. Top coaches in the field talked about different pitchers tendencies to dominate certain parts of the ball. My DD has always dominated the bottom of the ball. She took to the Rise really well. Drop was / is difficult for her. Its kind of who she is as a pitcher. Top 3 pitches are Rise, Change & Curve. She continues to work on her drop and it has improved a ton in the past 6 months. I equate the improvement more to mental maturity and understanding she needs to control the bottom of the zone as well.

That’s the exact issue I was thinking about, and one of the ways that I have seen pitching coaches use data more effectively in the last few years. (I think my DD’s coach may have presented on this at NFCA.) With actual data, you can really confirm whether an athlete naturally gravitates towards up or down spin (or has unusual horizontal movement) and can tailor the athlete’s program accordingly. If someone shows up with -7VB on their “fastball” and -1VB on their “riseball,” then it probably makes sense to deemphasize the rise and develop a really nice drop. What to do with that athlete probably would be obvious to experienced coaches without data, but I think it has helped to refocus coaches on the idea of playing to a pitcher’s natural strengths.


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[radness]

Because not all pitchers are the same. What pitches learned first, second, third or fourth
could be pending some of the natural ability and type of body mechanics the pitcher is producing.

In my opinion
Would start with locating strikes.
Second Pitch would be change-ups.
Then learning to miss on purpose.
Then go into other pitch selections.

Might be easier for one pitcher to add a drop at speed, can add off speeds on this.
While another pitcher would be easier to add a curve at speed, can add off speeds on this.
Rise for others would be appropriate option.

 

[ArmWhip]

Second Pitch would be change-ups.

Something that never gets talked about is how difficult it is for most pitchers to learn the change up, probably because it involves a radical mechanical change. Spins may require a different grip and some finger/hand manipulation, and while you may not spin it correctly the ball is generally close to the plate. Attempted change ups can go anywhere.

 

[lostcreek1]

Something that never gets talked about is how difficult it is for most pitchers to learn the change up, probably because it involves a radical mechanical change. Spins may require a different grip and some finger/hand manipulation, and while you may not spin it correctly the ball is generally close to the plate. Attempted change ups can go anywhere.

This makes me feel a little bit better about the difficulty my DD is having trying to throw a change up.

 

[BillyB]

Lots of good info here...regarding Softball obviously, what do you think are the top two go to pitches of the best pitchers out there? Fastball and what? Between all the breaking or offspeed, does it really come down to feel for each specific pitcher?