Phil – Page 13 – Fastpitch Power

Reach, Track, Fire and Drive

By Phil | August 10, 2012 |

What follows is one of my favorite muscle memory drills which helps pitchers see and feel their bodies at various, crucial points in the delivery. Please note the following when performing this drill:

1. The pitcher should be 25 – 35 feet from the catcher, depending on age and level.

2. Coaches commands should be a minimum of 2 to 3 seconds apart to allow the pitcher to sense and adjust any mechanical flaws, as well as keep her balance (if she cannot keep her balance, it’s an indication that she needs to strength train).

3. This video is a demonstration for a fastball. The drill can be adapted for any pitch. Look to future posts for other pitches.

Take a Lesson from the “Tortoise and the Hare” When Pitching

By Phil | August 3, 2012

Like the story of the tortoise and the hare, sometimes slow is the way to go.
Pitchers can’t all throw at 70 mph. But if we pitch with intelligence, utilizing all of the tools in our shed, we can be just as effective.

Article Postponed

By Phil | July 20, 2012

Due to a family emergency Phil’s article will not appear today. We hope to be back to a normal schedule next week. Thank you for your patience.

A Closer Look at Forearm Fire

By Phil | June 22, 2012 |

Forearm fire is the terminology that we at Fastpitch Power use to describe the proper release of the ball in windmill pitching. Some of you may have heard part of it referred to as “internal rotation,” describing the positioning and movement of the pitching arm, elbow, and wrist as they travel down the back side of the arm circle and move through the throw zone. It’s a natural and powerful movement, and we believe it is critical to pitching with maximum velocity and command while minimizing the chance of injury. Because forearm fire utilizes the arm’s natural articulation together with gravity, many pitchers just do it without thinking about it. For those who don’t, it can be frustrating to learn. Today’s video provides a breakdown, and an explanation of its advantages over upward elbow snap, sometimes referred to as “hello elbow.”

Video: Maximizing the Throw Zone in Windmill Pitching

By Phil | June 15, 2012

In a previous video, I discussed the importance of the throw zone in windmill pitching and how to establish it. In today’s video, we’re going to take a more in-depth look at the throw zone and talk about how it relates to maximizing your velocity and command.

You Can’t Fix What You Don’t Understand

By Phil | June 8, 2012

When you’re all alone in the eight foot circle and things seem to be falling apart around you…who are you gonna call? If your answer is anything other than “your own self,” you’ll probably get a busy signal.

Video: G-flop Drill for Windmill Pitching Acceleration

By Phil | June 1, 2012

Acceleration in the windmill pitching motion is critical to the success of the pitch. It’s logical: if you’re not accelerating your arm at delivery, you will not release the ball with maximum speed. Despite this, so many pitchers get into the habit of slowing down or even stopping their hands at the delivery of the pitch, resulting in compromised velocity and accuracy.

Where have all the fastballs gone?

By Phil | May 25, 2012

I try, as often as possible, to attend softball tournaments where our students are performing in game situations. In doing so, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend, prevalent at the NCAA level, that is now filtering down to younger and younger pitchers: The reluctance to throw fastballs. No doubt learning to throw movement and off-speed pitches is a critical component of any pitcher’s development. But let’s take a closer look at what I believe is a serious case of “throwing the baby out with the bath water.”

Video: Windmill Pitch Drive-through Mechanics

By Phil | May 18, 2012

The drive-through is an extremely important component of windmill pitching mechanics. It’s one of your biggest sources of power as a pitcher, and it can also be your biggest reason for losing power if you’re not doing it optimally. Throughout our years of teaching and watching softball tournaments of all levels in person and on television, we’ve seen a lot of leg work that, well, needs work. There really is one way to optimize your drive-through and get the most out of your legs when you pitch for maximum power and injury prevention. In this video, I’ll demonstrate those mechanics.

Video: Importance of the Glove Hand in Windmill Pitching

By Phil | May 11, 2012

Do you think about your glove hand when you’re pitching? Do you even know what it’s doing? The glove hand is an EXTREMELY important part of the windmill pitch. It has the power to steer your body in the direction of your target, and the power to pull your shoulders way out of alignment if it’s not doing what it’s supposed to do. Maintaining good glove work takes a lot of core strength. In this video blog, I’m going to demonstrate the power of the glove and some common mistakes that pitchers make with their gloves.

Posts by Phil