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I compiled all the contest entrants’ names into a list and chose the winner by putting it through a randomizer at Random.org. The winner is…
Read MoreThere are a number of things a windmill pitcher could be doing—locking the arm, driving through improperly, leaning forward, etc.—that could be robbing her of speed. Pitchers will hear an awful lot about their mechanics during their pitching lessons, but there is one major speed factor that doesn’t get talked about as much…yet, it affects more than half of the pitchers I have seen.
Read MoreWhen you’re first learning a skill like pitching or hitting, or when you’re trying to work on breaking more than one bad habit, lessons can be overwhelming. After every pitch or swing, your coach might rattle off a list of things to change. After the next one, it’s something different. You change one thing, but you forget about something else. Trying to keep track of all the things you’re doing incorrectly can be overwhelming, and often not very productive.
Read MoreIf you subscribe to our newsletter (and actually OPENED the newsletter this week), you knew to check the site today for a contest announcement! Newsletter subscribers always get advanced notification of this kind of thing, so if you aren’t signed up, use the form to the right to add your email to the list. Now on to the contest! Here’s how to enter:
Read MoreThe majority of windmill pitchers can probably relate to my annoyance on this subject: you buy a shiny new pair of softball cleats, and before ONE SEASON is even over, the field is tearing up your foot through the holes you’ve worn into your shoes. Well, fret no more! I’ve got some suggestions that will help you get a lot more mileage out of your cleats. Your feet (and your parents’ wallets) will be relieved!
Read MoreHere are some questions I hear a lot, both in person and online, usually in reference to young pitchers between the ages of 8 and 11: How far along should my daughter be right now? My daughter isn’t doing as well as her peers; is she hopeless? Do you think she has what it takes? Should we quit pitching? The vast majority of the time, these sorts of questions come from very overanxious parents. Before you make a snap judgement about your daughter’s future as a pitcher, take into account these tips that I’m going to share with you today.
Read MoreWhen you’re learning windmill pitching for the very first time, the ball is probably going to go everywhere… and that’s normal! Once you sort of get the hang of it, however, you may notice that when you miss your pitch location, it is often in the same spot, or the same two spots. I find myself constantly reminding my students WHY pitch after pitch lands inside, outside, high, or low; I tell them to memorize the reason so they can self-correct in games and practices. Whether you’re a parent trying to teach your daughter to pitch and you’re not quite sure how to troubleshoot location issues, or you’re a Fastpitch Power student already and you need a cheat sheet to help you remember, this post is for you!
Read MoreThe question of landing on the power line has come up a couple of times now among Fastpitch Power readers, so I want to share my response with all of you. Many people assume that to throw a strike as a windmill pitcher, you want to land on the power line—sounds right, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not quite right. Today we’ll discuss more specifically where you SHOULD be landing.
Read MoreAll Fastpitch Power contributors are in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy and therefore may not post articles due to power outages. Thank you for your patience.
Read MoreAn EXTREMELY common question I hear from parents of new young pitchers is, “How often should my daughter pitch? How many pitches should she throw?” You may have started noticing a pattern in my answers to these types of questions: there is no “right answer” or solid number I can give you that works for everyone. There are, however, guidelines you should take into account, and that’s what we’re going to discuss today.
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