Softball Pitching Basics - 10 Things You Need to Know Part2

Part 2 Learn to Control Yourself and your Pitches

3. You must be throwing 400-500 pitches every week now. You have to throw pitches, and lots of them to develop your pitching muscles. You also have to develop your fastpitch softball gloves hand. You need to keep both sides of your body in shape.

4. Begin to Develop your Control of your Pitch. To develop true control, you have to be in control. That means you have to keep your head on straight as they say. Stay calm, don't worry if you throw a bad pitch. Tell yourself that no matter where the pitch ends up that is exactly where you intended it to go. Make the batter and everyone else believe that.
Don't be distracted by the other team, or by fans or parents. Keep cool about the umpire's call. Just stay cool and show no emotion in the circle. Show everyone that You are in control of the game.
When you get Control, when you have a good smooth windmill pitching motion. Your body motion is smooth and controlled, your release is the same every time, then you can start working on placement.
You can start working on accuracy and placement by working to hit your spots. Start out by pitching to the 4 corners - low inside, low outside, high inside, high outside.
Later you will work on variations of those spots and add more.

Stay tuned softball fans for more tips for beginning Fastpitch Softball pitchers.

Just keepin' it real....

Softball Pitching 10 Basics You need to Know

Part I
1. You should throw between 300-400 pitches every week. You must practice hard. Good serious practice is what it takes to become a good fastpitch softball pitcher. Learning to windmill pitch is going to be tough but you can do it. You should build up to throwing 100 pitches every couple of days (3-4 days/week).

2. You should learn the pitching mechanics first, then work on the speed. If you have bad mechanics lots of things can go wrong. As you become more skilled in the mechanics and your motion becomes more smooth start adding more speed. At this point control or accuracy is not the most important thing, that will come with practice. Be sure to use a consistent arm speed all through the pitch. Later you will work on variations of this.

Be certain your fastpitch gloves hand is pointed at the catcher to start your windup. Keep your arm bent slightly but extended all through the pitch motion. Be sure to use your whole body, not just your arm to produce the power and speed. Use your legs to push off. Bring your hip through with your arm. Release as your hand brushes by your hip. Make certain your wrist is facing straight at the catcher.

After release let your hand follow through naturally, that may be across your body or it may be on up by your ear. Jennie Finch teaches the "hello elbow" follow through. Your arm finishes long and your elbow ends up by your ear. This is good technique because it keeps you from snapping your arm abruptly which causes injury.

For right hand pitchers your body is facing third base during the pitch and if you wear a left hand infield softball glove you will be facing first base during the pitch.

Keep watching for the remaining tips for softball pitching basics.

Just keepin' it real...

Softball Hitting - The Basics 2

Ok, so you have learned a few basic tips for hitting. Now here are some more basic tips for hitting a fastpitch softball.

Let's talk about the stance now. As a hitter you need to be comfortable in your batting stance. You don't want to feel awkward before trying to do the most difficult thing in sports - hitting a fastpitch softball.

Step into the batters box and position yourself about the middle of the box. This way you can get the most out of viewing the pitch.

Position your feet about shoulder width apart. Again, this is a personal preference. Some batters like to be a little wider and some a little narrower. Find where your own personal preference is and stick to it.

Bend your knees a little. Kind of begin to squat down, but not too much. You just need to get into an athletic stance. This is so you can move your body quickly to hit the ball. If you squat too much you will lock yourself into place. If you stand to tall and stiff legged the same thing will happen. You won't be able to move quickly to swing at the ball.

Turn your head so that your eyes can both see the pitchers fastpitch softball glove. You need to be able to focus on the pitchers arm as she begins her windup and release of the softball.

Ok, now lean slightly into homeplate. Just enough to be comfortable and see the path of the ball as it is pitched in to the fastpitch catchers mitt. You don't want to lean in too far as it will deter your ability to move to the pitch and swing quickly. You also don't want to stay too straight up either for the same reason.

Keep reading and watching for more tips on fastpitch softball hitting.

Just keepin' it real...

Softball Hitting - The Basics 1

To hit a fastpitch softball is one of the most difficult feats in all of sports. You are trying to hit a very fast moving round object with a thin round stick. It's tough but you can learn how to do it. If you are new to the sport read on for some tips on hitting a fastpitch softball.

Holding the bat correctly. This sounds simple but let's talk about it a little. You hold it with your forward hand on the bottom and your back hand on the top. This lets you get maximum power out of your swing when you learn to swing.

Hold your head still. You can't be moving up and down or looking away. You have to keep looking straight at the pitcher or the ball on the tee for younger players. You can't be watching the catchers glove behind you. You need to have both eyes looking for the ball as it comes toward you. Your brain is trying to process to images at once, one from each eye. So holding your head still makes it much easier.

Shift your weight. You need to shift it back a little to get yourself loaded up and then shift it forward as you contact the ball. This weight shift helps you to get maximum power from your body through the bat and finally into the softball.

Take a very small step. This helps to shift your weight but is mostly for timing of the pitch. Just as the pitcher releases the ball step slightly forward or even just up and back down with no forward movement. This helps get you set up for the swing.

Keep watching for more Basic Hitting Tips for Fastpitch Softball.

Just keepin' it real....

Fastpitch Softball Fielding Tips - Infield 2

In part one of this series we talked about things like keeping your softball glove vertical and other good fielding tips.

More tips for proper use of your fastpitch gloves for fielding are use your free hand like an alligator. When you receive the softball into your glove slap it shut with your free hand. This helps keep the ball from bouncing back out and missing the out.

Quick transfer of the softball to your throwing hand is essential to getting the runner out. After the alligator trap, bring the glove and your free hand up to throwing position in a small circular motion while at the same time transferring the softball to your throwing hand.

Set your feet in the direction of the throw. This is vital to making an accurate throw. Take the half second it takes to get properly set up and you will be much more accurate on your throw to get the batter out at first base.

Even girls softball players using left handed infielders gloves can make this play with great accuracy from shortstop or second base if these tips are used and practiced.

Get out there and play hard and remember these Softball Fielding tips.

Just keepin' it real...

Fastpitch Softball Fielding Tips - Infield

When playing fastpitch softball it is important to understand the proper mechanics of fielding the ball. If you don't understand and use proper fielding mechanics some bad things can happen. Not the least of which is missing the ball.

One of the first things you need to know is to get your softball infielder glove down in the dirt. Keep the glove vertical as opposed to horizontal so you can stop the ball. This will keep the ball from rolling into the glove and popping up into your chin.

Get your rear end down. Bend your knees to get your eye level down even with the ball. This allows you to see the movement of the ball much better. Your reaction time will be quicker.

Position yourself so you can hold your girls softball glove a little out in front of your body. This allows you to "receive" the ball as opposed to just stopping it. Lets you use the soft hands technique of infield play.

Keep checking back for more tips on this subject.

Just keepin' it real....

Fastpitch Glove Care Part 2

Playing Fastpitch Softball is a great experience. Running onto the field with your perfectly broken in fastpitch gloves gives you a feeling of confidence. When the batter hits a hard hit grounder to your zone you recieve the ball and make the throw over to first for the out. Awesome!

Now, after the long tournament your perfectly broken in fastpitch gloves are dirty, dusty and feeling a little dried out. Its time to do some maintanence.



Review the post about in season glove care for the Basics of glove care. Here are a few things you need to know before working on that fastpitch softball glove.

1. Don't put anything on your glove that you wouldn't put on your own skin. The leather in your fastpitch glove is skin, remember that and you will be good.

2. Don't use dishwashing liquid or any kind of detergent to clean your glove. These will remove the essential oils that were tanned into the leather during crafting.

3. Do use a good quality leather conditioner such as Akadema Glove Conditioner, Lexol, Glove Loogie or mink oil. Shave cream with Lanolin can also be used.

There you go, now remember to take care of your glove so it can take care of you on the field.

Just keepin' it real...

Basic Softball Glove Maintenance

After a long weekend of tournament fastpitch softball it is time to do some glove maintenance. If you are using a professional quality infield glove or one from the local box store, you need to take care of it.

1. Start by wiping it down with a damp cloth or sponge to get all the dirt and dust off. Try to get as much as you can off the lacing, between the fingers and off the stitching. The dirt on softball fields can be very gritty and abrasive, almost like sandpaper. This will eat your glove away over time if you don't tend to it soon.

2. Use a small amount of glove conditioner or foamy shave cream and rub it into the leather and lacing of your glove. This will add needed conditioners back into the leather that the sun, dirt and sweat have removed from a long tournament of play.

3. Place a softball deep into the pocket of your glove, tie it with a rubber band or shoe lace and let it sit until practice time.

Check back for more tips on in-season glove and equipment care.

Just keepin' it real...

Softball Pitching Article You might Enjoy

Are you ready for the Big Time? Are you the kid next door that everyone is talking about as being the next softball superstar? The girl in This Article certainly is. She may try to stay anonymous for a while but all the coaches know who she is by now. Read the article and see how you compare.

She definitely has all the physical attributes necessary to be a standout college player. Coaches across the country know who she is and whats amazing is that she is just 15 years old.

Are you ready to go for the big time? Or do you just want to be the best you can be? Both are great goals. Keep up the hard work. Do you have all the right softball stuff you need, new pitchers glove, maybe a third base glove. Check your shoes, are they clean and polished. College coaches look for things like that. Is your uniform clean and not all wrinkled? Check your other things like your softball glove. Did you remember to recondition it after a rainy game day? These things will all help you perform better when it counts.

There is still time to get into great softball shape too. Remember to workout during the season also.

Just Keepin' it real...

Softball Pitchers Favorite Color - Blue?

That may be my favorite color but it may not be a fastpitch softball pitcher's favorite color. After all, that's the color of the umpire uniform. You know, we all call them "hey blue".

As a softball pitcher you need to at least try to make the umpire think that is your favorite color. You definitely don't ever want to put an umpire on display in front of the whole ball park by letting her know you are upset about a pitch call. Just put the ball back in your fastpitch glove and head back to the circle.

Fastpitch pitching requires you to cleverly use your mind as well as your body when a questionable pitch call comes into play. Don't glare at them for several seconds or stomp around the mound between pitches. Umpires are people just like we are. They are out there doing a job to allow us to play this game. You wouldn't like to be shown up in front of the whole crowd now would you?

If you use bad judgement and glare down the umpire you will likely not get any more close strikes called the rest of the day. Treat the umpire with respect. If you think the call was bad, give him a very quick glance and then turn away. Don't stare, make it only about a half second or less. Just long enough for her to know you didn't like that call.

Another way is to politely ask where that pitch was. Wait until the play is over, politely ask "hey blue - where did I miss on that pitch?" Then tell him Thanks. You have to be very polite or it could come out sounding like you are chastising the umpire. YOu don't want that.

Remember, as a fastpitch softball pitcher you are trying to Not put the softball over the plate anyway, just close enough to make it look like a strike. So maybe that pitch was close but not quite close enough in the umpires view. Tell yourself that you will get the next one and go on.

As mentioned above, umpires are out on the fastpitch softball field doing a job that allows you to pitch softball. So be greateful. Be sure to tell the umpire if you think he made a good call in the field. Maybe it was a close call sliding under the third base glove. Those are tough calls, let the umpires know you appreciate the job he is doing. Politics in fastpitch softball can be a good thing.

We have all seen the prima donna pitcher that misses outside and stomps around, cusses and raises her arms in disgust. Don't be that pitcher.

Be the fastpitch softball pitcher that the umpire respects. She will tell other coaches and umpires about you. What she tells about you is determined by your actions. Give the umpire good stories to tell about you.

Make Blue your new favorite color!


This is from Barry Lovelace, The King of Core. If you are looking for an excellent pitching workout, this is it.

In Softball Its The Team That Counts

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to watch a couple of the best college programs in the country battle it out on the field. They are both highly ranked teams and deservedly so. One in the top 5 and one in the top 15.

Both teams came into the series with good records and strong players. One team recently lost their ace pitcher. That really shouldn't matter that much to a top 5 team, should it? The outcome - well I'll tell you...

In this game of Fastpitch Softball that we all love, it can sometimes revolve around one or two key players. Or so it kind of seems that way. Perhaps your team has an ace pitcher, a really good ERA and some serious movement on the ball. Most teams just aren't ready to hit that junk. She keeps you in most games and helps you win the others.

Perhaps you have a couple elite batters, a slapper like Caitlyn Lowe or a girl that is fast as lightning and can steal bases at will. Maybe its a shortstop that never misses anything even if the ball is 20 feet to her side.

What happens when this person goes down with an injury or has to be away for a few games for whatever reason? Does the team just fold? Do you just give up and wait for her to return?

Season Specials on Position Specific Gloves...

NO! Your team keeps going. You put in another pitcher, you move positions around to replace that elite shortstop. The rest of the team steps up to the plate and hits lights out.

You've been working all winter and into the season. You don't quit now. You want to show your injured teammate that you respect her by trying even harder.

These traits you have just learned on the ball field will carry over into your normal life also. Later, when you are in the working life you will be able to help your "team" by stepping up to the plate and hit lights out again.

Perhaps later in life there is a family trauma. Your training in softball will be there to support you and your family. So don't let the loss of one player drag down your whole team or season.

Ok, I was hoping for a good ending to that top 5 team but it turns out they kind of fell apart. They didn't make many errors but made several mental mistakes that allowed an extra run to score and they lost the game. I am sure they will be back up to their regular game the next time out. They are just too good as a team to stay down.

So don't be like that top 5 team. Get back in there and play the best you can and come out with a win in the game and in life.

Just keepin'it real...