Pitching Drills for Problem Areas

I often receive phone calls from coaches and parents alike that are out there working hard with their pitchers to help them improve or correct a problem they have.

It is my opinion that the art of pitching is not that much different from the art of hitting. They both have many areas where if something breaks down, the entire skill or outcome is affected. Most pitching coaches will agree that there are certain major areas of focus in pitching, such as, balance, arm circle, rotation, stride, wrist snap and follow-through.

It is my belief that the first concern should be placed on BALANCE. I have heard time and time again that if a hitter is not balanced, she has set herself up for many other problems to occur. The same is true with the art of pitching. Improper balance must be corrected immediately. It is very easy to see if your pitcher is on balance by standing to the side of her during delivery. Ask yourself these questions: is my pitcher bent over at the waist? (She may look a lot like a bowler.) Does she lean over her plant foot prior to the release of the ball? Do her arms, especially focus on the glove arm, throw her to one side or the other before her drive towards home? Are her shoulders leading all of her pitches? If you found yourself answering yes to any of these questions, your pitcher needs to work on her balance. If she is off balance during her delivery, she will have other problems because of it and will find it difficult to progress in the advanced pitches. Here are a few drills to help your pitcher find her BALANCE.

Balance Drills
NO STEP PITCH DRILL
Properly place pitchers stride step in place on their drive line (also referred to as the power line) towards catcher. Make sure they are staying upright throughout their arm swing. You can even start your pitcher at a shorter distance so they focus 100 percent on balance and not speed or distance. Used when you see your pitcher bending over at the waist or leaning over the plant foot.

BOX DRILL
Use a box that is the height of a kitchen table and place it at the pitcher's stride length. If you are comfortable enough, it is best to stand in front of the pitcher. (Make sure you straddle the drive line.) Make sure they drive the same as when the box is not there. Most likely they will be timid and focus primarily on not hitting the box or you. Let them ease into the drill and when they are comfortable, have them do 5-10 repetitions. Make sure to advance the drill and have them do 5-10 without the box and see if they can carry out the balance they learned when the box was there. Also used with a bent waist or leading with their shoulders.

CRANE PITCH DRILL
Start with hips open, arms in drive towards catcher, and plant foot beginning the drive towards home. (Just like the Karate Kid on the beach!) Before you have your pitcher throw any balls, have them go through the drill without a ball and tell you where their center of gravity is. I strongly believe that the more you have your pitcher vocalize what they are feeling and analyze their own pitch, the stronger they will become. Helps with balanced weight transfer. Your pitcher's arm circle should be fully extended driving towards her catcher, passing closely by the ear and driving down alongside the body to the release point. Over the past six years in working with all types of pitchers, I have had to come up with some creative terms so they understand what you are talking about. Terms like "reach for the sky,; "make your arm feel like the pendulum of a grandfather clock," "fluid," "grab your catchers glove." The most important part is to find the key term for your pitcher so she understands and uses the terms to trigger muscle memory. Your pitcher will experience all sorts of problems if she is locking her arm, bending her elbow, cutting off her circle