Fast-pitch softball is one of the fastest growing women’s sports in the United States and even became an Olympic sport in 1996. Because of its increasing popularity, many new players want to learn the skills needed to be a great player. For beginning pitchers, a few tips can help you learn the fundamentals and be on your way to becoming a great pitcher.
Focus on Fundamentals
A common mistake many new pitchers make is wanting to move too quickly into learning advanced pitches, such as a curveball or change-up. If your pitching fundamentals aren’t well established, you won’t have the proper base for executing these pitches. Make sure your fundamental pitching skills—standard grip, wind-up, footwork—are firmly in place before moving on to more advanced pitching techniques.
Focus on Defense
After the pitch is released, you immediately convert from a pitcher to a defensive player. Spend as much time on knowing your defensive positions and throwing the ball to bases as you do on your pitching technique. A pitcher who can pitch but doesn’t know how to defend is still a liability to her team.
Proper Warm-Up
Even though fast-pitch doesn’t use the same arm action as baseball, it still has potential for shoulder and arm injuries, especially without proper warm-up. Warm your arm up through stretching and soft-tossing every single time you practice your pitching. Failing to warm up can lead to serious and even sometimes career-ending injury. Place as much emphasis on proper warm-up as you do on practicing your technique to take proper care of your arm.
Footwork
Footwork in softball is essential, because the rules specify what your feet can and cannot do during a legal pitch. You can throw the perfect pitch that results in a strikeout, but it will be called back if you don’t have the proper footwork. Focus especially on dragging your back foot, as it must remain on the ground at all times to be considered a legal pitch.
Mental Focus
As if trying to get your form and fundamentals right isn’t enough, when the game starts, you must master a number of different pressures to be an effective pitcher. Many beginner pitchers may have trouble adjusting to the rigors of in-game pitching, which is loaded with different situations that can cause pressure. Take deep breaths, and focus on what you’ve done in practice to prepare for the game. Don’t let one wild pitch or hit ball rattle you. Stay focused on what your job is and how to do your best at it. Control what you can control and let the rest happen.
About this Author
With seven years of professional writing experience, James Patterson specializes in health and wellness topics, including disease, prevention, diet and nutrition as well as sports. His work has been featured by the National Institutes of Health and LIVESTRONG.com. Patterson was recently named as a national finalist for the Society of Professional Journalist’s Mark of Excellence Award.
