Pitching and Pitchers Discussion How many pitches do you need?

[default]

As a still relatively new softball dad, I am curious what some of you salty dogs think is the right number of pitches for softball. Right now, my girls know the ole #1, can throw it two ways with different spins and bites, which they spot pretty well; change-up; and we are putting in a drop over the fall/winter. Do we need more, or just focus on those? I have already ran into 12U parents whose dds throw "19 pitches, and we invented 10 of those ourselves".......If more, what should we focus on? I am worried about the long-term consequences of the torquing pitches, from bitter personal painful experience.

 

[default]

LC,

If your 12U or younger a fastball and change up will work against most teams if you can hit your spots and the fastball is of avg. speed. This is not to say you should not be working on more pitches because in 14U they will be a big help.

 

[default]

I seem to remember world class pitching instructor Doug Gillis saying that if your pitcher has a good fastball, she'll be a fair pitcher. If you can change speeds, she'll be good. If you can change elevation, she could be great. So, a fastball that hits the spots, a changeup that can keep a batter off balance, and a nice drop or rise should be pretty darn good for a U14 pitcher.

 

[default]

I agree with elavation change Drop, Rise and Change Up if you master those you will have a great career !!!!!

 

[default]

Fastball, change, a drop or rise will get the job done. Much more than that is just fluff. Good to have but IMHO not the end of the world!

Mike

 

[default]

I think in 12u, a strong Fastball and a Change up are enough. I know of one team in particular that goes three deep at pitcher and the coach has them all throw fastball/change up, and one of them throws a very good drop curve, but they stick to the fastball/change up. I have my DD work on 6 different pitches but she may only throw 2-3 in a game (curve ball is not thrown much). We are just planning for the future. Control is a big issue, many 12u pitchers can grasp how to throw a variety of pitches, but they can't control all those pitches "consistently". Lastly, we went to a clinic with Bill Hillhouse (Mens Olympic pitcher) and he told us he throws 3 pitches, a rise, a drop, and a change up. He concentrated on making sure everything was lined up (powerline, good arm circle, etc.). If I see a 12u throwing a bunch of junk, generally I will tell my hitters to be patient at the plate, make the pitcher work the count (throw a lot of pitches). Fundamentals are still the important thing, I think sometimes we over think these things and try to have these kids do more than they are ready for.

 

[default]

I wouldn't worry so much about the number of pitches, especially at the 12u group the fast and change will be enought. A drop ball for a pitcher who is not physically ready may not be the wisest thing for a developing arm (especially for the over the top drop). If I were you and I was last year I would teach my girls three things instead of additional pitches, 1 location, 2 location, 3 rotation. Teach them to lace the corners, as well as elevation, and teach them to pitch off the plate as well as on. And what I mean by that is teach them to throw a fastball 6 to 12 inches off the plate both inside and out for the opportunity where you as way up in the count.

 

[default]

If you play a full seven innings, any pitcher needs at least 21 pitches! ;&

 

[default]

If you play a full seven innings, any pitcher needs at least 21 pitches! ;&

dude that was bad!!:lmao:

 

[default]

I'm with 4thegame on this one, no need to torque anything before the child is ready, remember boys shouldn't throw curves until puberty is completely finished. I've treated my dd the same way! I've caught kids with 10 different pitches and really 7 of the 10 are the same thing. At 14 and 16 is when the ball really starts to spin, but not by eveyone! Change grips on the ball to create different rotations, look on line for different ways to hold the ball, it helps! Dont risk an injury if you dont have to. If your kid is 12U and has a fastball around 50 then what you need to learn is when to use the change up and fastball combo, because the change up for strike 3 at 12U starts to get smacked, use it early in the count to get ahead and then jam the batter or head out depending on what you have learned with the batters feet in the prior pitches. The most I would let a first year 12U do is ball grips then the second year maybe add a curve ball. Good luck!!

 

[default]

21 pitches is the perfect game to me. A lot easier on a pitcher than 63 for all strike outs and that is not counting on a ball or a foul tip.

 

[default]

21 pitches is the perfect game to me. A lot easier on a pitcher than 63 for all strike outs and that is not counting on a ball or a foul tip.

100% agree! LOL

 

[default]

That's a tough call. For sure in 12u you gotta get the change-up and fastball down pat real well. After that you could add in the curve, maybe drop. Just depends on what she can throw good. But come 14u you will start to need 1-2 more junk pitches. But it all depends, im not an expert.

 

[default]

You can go along way on 3 pitches if you have average heat. Fastball, change, and drop. The junk must change planes though or it will get belted. If a curve ball lays flat and doesn't drop any, it will be a meatball to many hitters. Many college pitches rely on junk and not speed. Must be able to hit the spots!!

 

[default]

I'd say 4 main pitches get the job done: fastball, change, drop, rise. Maybe a drop-curve now and then.

 

[default]

At 12U, I'd love to have a pitcher that can hit the four corners, and then a couple inches out of the strike zone. Our catchers and pitchers have been told to learn the umpires strike zone, and then pitch to it. In Sterling, we had umpires that called letter high, but not at the knees, and vice versa. They would call inside, but not outside. For me, it is all about location, and then change of speeds, then change of plane. So, spotted fastball, then good change of speed, then drop, etc.

 

[default]

Giillis and Hillhouse will have your master the drop and change up. Changing the planes are the keys as mentioned above. Softball is not baseball, so Rise and Drop are keys, If you learn a curve it better be a drop /curve. Like mentioned above changing grips is very important it will change speed and spin. Hillhouse will show you by putting your fingers different locations on the same pitch will create different speeds and keep the batter guessing. The Knuckle change is a good example of a pitch than you can throw with different speeds by just the fingers used. If you go to a good college pitching camp , they will measure spin and speed. The emphasis today is spin. Most use a cut off of 20 for a good college pitcher. You can throw a fast ball at 70 and if it is a flat fast ball, it makes a good home run.

 

[default]

As a still relatively new softball dad, I am curious what some of you salty dogs think is the right number of pitches for softball. Right now, my girls know the ole #1, can throw it two ways with different spins and bites, which they spot pretty well; change-up; and we are putting in a drop over the fall/winter. Do we need more, or just focus on those? I have already ran into 12U parents whose dds throw "19 pitches, and we invented 10 of those ourselves".......If more, what should we focus on? I am worried about the long-term consequences of the torquing pitches, from bitter personal painful experience.

19 pitches that all look exactly the same and are about 40mph.:lmao::lmao::lmao: