The Fundamentals of Pitching a Softball

By Annilee Kazushi

At present, there are a tremendous amount of different pitches involved in softball. First, softball pitching may involve a fastball, which actually goes straight. There is a changeup, which is often referred to as a backhand, horseshoe, or circle change in softball throwing. Also, there is a slowed down pitch. Now this type can take many diverse directions. Then there is the dropball, known as a peel drop. Then there are simply drops too. Softball pitching may involve curveballs, which are customarily referred to as curves, and there is a screwball, which curves inside and then drops a little. Finally, there are pitches that are basically a faster fastball, such as rise balls, or rises.

When you want to throw a fastball, the motion starts out as a windmill. In order to have the appropriate grips you have to grab the two horseshoes. Now, you can use as little as 2 fingers or as many as 4, but this usually depends on the size of the player's hand. Just remember that the more fingers you use, the more easily it will be able to be controlled.

You will find that softball pitching is geared around balance. If you want to maximize your equilibrium, then the feet should be a tad bit less then a shoulder width apart. You should face the catcher and when the windup occurs; your weight will shift to the strong foot. When this takes place a rocking motion will begin as the weight changes legs.

Your pitching arm will begin to move towards the catcher, but through and eventually reaching a twelve o'clock position. In order to keep accuracy and balance at the same time, the glove arm will actually point towards the catcher's mitt. When the ball comes back through the wind-up, it will be released around the hip level and provide a wrist snap at the same time. Without any action or snap at the release point, the rotation or spin will be minimal.

The other kind of softball throwing is a changeup that is begun the same way as the fastball and at the same speed and even with the same grip, but then the wrist as well as the forearm is flipped, just prior to reaching the hip. The ball should be released just prior to reaching the waist level.

Some softball pitching involves a dropball, which is accomplished by holding it with the fingertips on the stitches of the horseshoe. Taking a much shorter stride than a fastball, you land with the gloved side leg. By staying tall as you release that ball, with your weight forward you release the ball by pulling backwards a bit with your fingertips, thus creating a very fast forward spin.

Then we have the curveball. The position of your fingers will be crucial to the success of this softball throwing pitch. The pinky and index fingers should be spread as far apart as possible. Your middle and ring fingers should be positioned properly on the laces. Most importantly the thumb will need to be set at a six o' clock setting underneath the ball. If you're a right hander you will roll the ball counterclockwise and lefties will send it through rolling the ball clockwise.

In the end it will all come down to how much time you have to practice your softball pitching. The more you do, the easier it will be to develop these pitches and throw off batters time and time again. - 29951

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