Pitching and Pitchers Discussion How do you teach pitchers to hit spots?

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What are some of the drills you use to teach pitchers to hit their spots? I'm hoping there are many different options out there, and want opinions!

 

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I am the mother of a pitcher. However, her pitching coach handles the specifics, I just hold the glove in the different locations. All else is on her! ;D

 

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I always thought it odd, we never focus totally on it, with her coach its all mechanics, if they are right, everything will follow and it did. Just always told her to release to the glove. She has wonderful mechanics and I guess this has worked for her. I've been told she hits her spots very well.

 

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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

For a pitcher the definition of inconsistency is: doing something different over and over again and expecting to pitch a strike.

It begins with mechanics; proper form or unconventional, it has to be repeatable and consistent. Once you have repeatable and consistent mechanics it becomes a matter of repetition. So, having said that, the first thing I'd do is become familiar with the pitcher, fix any glaring errors, and insist that whatever they do, they do it that way all the time.

Once mechanics are consistent I have her perform drills that emphasize "aiming". The drills could be anything from just throwing strikes (for those still learning) to knocking a ball off of a batting tee (advanced). The point with any aiming drill is that there shouldn't be any conscious manipulation of the hand or body to hit the spot, it is a matter of the eyes telling the body what to do. For pitchers, I tell them that whatever they do, be it warm-ups or pitching in the backyard, to always throw to a target.

 

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steer with your feet.


crosley

 

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DD is also a pitcher, we use the catchers mitt just placing where I would like her to "place" it. Her lead foot will help direct it depending on where she finishes with it is usually where the ball end up.

A little advice though, if you haven't already, grab some shin guards and a good five gallon bucket to save yourself some pain in the long run.

 

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Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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Never aim, use proper mechanics, practice and the ability for any pitcher to hit their spots will come. Working off the power line is key to hitting spots, knowing where to step makes is much easier to throw the ball where you want it to go.

 

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Never aim, use proper mechanics, practice and the ability for any pitcher to hit their spots will come. Working off the power line is key to hitting spots, knowing where ?to step makes is much easier to throw the ball where you want it to go.

I think Chip says it all - good mechanics and form and working the line are the key that has helped my daughter thus far. ?She's been working with her pitching coach for a year now and has come farther than we could have dreamed. ?When her mechanics are all on she'll put it in the green zone every time. ?If she's not in the green it's just a matter of finding there the flaw in her form is.

 

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In my experience with my dd, by the time they are throwing strikes consistently, they already know how to hit locations because they see how their feet change were the ball goes and correct it so much getting to that point that they can then use it to hit spots. In 3 years with her pitching coach I don't ever remember him specifically telling her how to hit spots. Just gives her targets with the glove during some drills. It kind of comes on its own.

 

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After the pitcher gets the spin, speed and mechanics down, controll will follow. ?Never, ever aim the pitch.

 

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I've described this before, but I'll relate it again if it will help. ?

The drill my dd was taught was to try to pitch 25 balls to each of the 4 "spots"---high inside/low inside/high outside/low outside, having her catcher determine how many actually hit their mark. ?She writes these numbers down (example: 17 of 25 are accurate = 17/25 ?or ?11 of 25 hit the mark = 11/25, etc)

Then she needs to pitch another 25 balls to the "spot" where she had the weakest performance. ?Again, catcher decides how many were accurate, and writes this number down---perhaps 15/25.

Save these numbers for the coach and for the next practice to compare performance. ?It can be a real motivator. ?(Plus, keeps her honest by letting the catcher be the one to decide which balls are hits or misses. ) ?

 

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As Chip stated in his email the best friend of any pitcher is the power line and the dirt. You put a power line in from the center of the pitchers plate out towards the catcher and if all the mechanics are correct and the pitcher steps directly on the power line the ball should hit the middle of the plate.

Step a little to the left of the power line. (RHP) and the ball will go outside (FB). A little to the right of the power line and the ball will go inside. Pay attention to where you step in the DIRT!!!!! and watch where the ball GOES!!!!!.

More often than not most of my students just get up there and throw and then wonder why they cant hit their spots. Its because they dont pay attention to where the ball goes after they let go if it. They figure they are done. Until they make a mistake and its coming right back at them. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to tell a student. "Read the dirt" It will tell you everything you need to know. IF you know what to look for and how to understand what it means.

I can teach then how to read it. Up to them to use it and understand how much it will help them.

Elliott.

 

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Go to ErnieC's barn. ;D Seriously, he has these great circles placed on the wall and you don't even need a catcher. Makes it pretty easy to literally see whether you have hit your spots.

 

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kat - my DD did that exact same type of drill. Actually, she kept a "pitching diary" (we still have it somewhere) where she charted her accuracy in practices, jotted notes about what she felt she needed to work on, etc. She kept this diary in her bag, and took it to practices, games and lessons. Each time she saw her instructor, they would review her notes, and prioritize things to work on in her lesson. That kept things moving, and she was working on trouble spots instead of repeating the things she was already good at. She was doing this at 12, so it gave her a sense that she was responsible for her success. We would take her to lessons, but SHE would interact and talk with her instructor, and mom and dad just listened and observed.

sports - I asked my DD what she used for drills. Other than what I said above, she more or less said it wasn't one specific drill, but rather a culmination of all the mechanics, practices, and learning from her mistakes with minor corrections. Slightly changing release points, slightly adjusting stride length. No two pitchers do things exactly alike. They have to "feel" what they are doing and make adjustments. Lots of trial and error that comes with years of proper practice. I think simply building good practice habits over time does more good than a specific drill.

Unless your kid is an absolute stud, all she needs is a repeatable, WELL PLACED fastball and a deceiving change-up that she can throw for a strike when needed. That will easily take her through high school. Most kids even throw a peel drop without even realizing it.

 

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Go to ErnieC's barn. ;D Seriously, he has these great circles placed on the wall and you don't even need a catcher. Makes it pretty easy to literally see whether you have hit your spots.

He also has the power line painted on the floor!

 

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As had already been stated, mechanics is first and foremost and also never aim. Once these are consistant, I like to use a taped strike zone complete rectangle box on a block wall or if a sturdy block wall is not available or indoors during the winter you can rig up an old piece of hanging carpet and make the strike zone. Then move back and have her pitch a bucket of balls to the 4 corners with various pitches and distance, while concentrating on the spot and focus on her mechanics. Pick up balls and repeat. Still do not aim, let the mind, eyes, and body do the work. I tell my girls it is more like the old west gunfighter, pull your gun and fire, the same goes for the pitch. I like using the rectangle zone because they get instant feedback and can acutally see where the ball hit. Then they can adjust and re-focus. Hope this helps or gives you some new ideas.

 

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I agree with the feet and powerline. Once you can throw consistent strikes down the middle on the line you can begin to step left and right to direct the pitch - using the same mechanics as down the middle. The high and low comes from lengthing and shorting the stride.

 

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I sit down on bucket in the yard. Hold my glove up for the target. If she misses target its a long walk to pick up the ball!

 

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I always thought it odd, we never focus totally on it, with her coach its all mechanics, if they are right, everything will follow and it did. Just always told her to release to the glove. She has wonderful mechanics and I guess this has worked for her. I've been told she hits her spots very well.

Very well put Flashes! The same for our DD. Mechanics first ( Includes footwork. ) of coarse.