PITCHING PRESENTATION This pitching presentation was created by - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PITCHING PRESENTATION This pitching presentation was created by Bruce Adams with input from the IVC Head Baseball coach and designed for the U9 Travel Team

Proper Teaching Method for Youth Pitching • The key to teaching a young person to pitch is to keep it simple and develop a consistent routine that will teach proper muscle memory. • When a young player is learning to pitch they should learn to pitch from the stretch. A young should learn to pitch from the stretch. A young player should only learn to throw a fastball (primarily focusing on a four seam grip); off speed pitches will be introduced as the player develops. • Focus should be on throwing strikes and not speed of pitches

Fundamental Steps to Develop Proper Pitching Form • Standing at the pitching rubber, preparing to pitch – Start with your right foot against the rubber (right handed pitcher) and the left foot shoulders width apart – Hands should be down next to the pitchers sides • Starting the pitching motion – Bring the glove hand and ball hand together at the sternum and – Bring the glove hand and ball hand together at the sternum and pause for one second – Bring the left knee up to approximately waste high and rotate the knee slightly back (away from home plate) turning the hips as to show the left pocket of your pants to the batter – Start to separate the ball hand from the glove hand at the same time the left leg should start down and out in front of the player creating a stride. The hands should almost seem to be pushing the leg down as they separate

Fundamental Steps to Develop Proper Pitching Form The arm motion • – The glove hand should extend out toward home plate while the ball hand should go back toward second base with a slight downward motion to start then come up to the top of the throwing position. This creates a complete rotational throw • During this rotational motion it is important to watch the throwing arm to ensure that it is extended above and to the right of the shoulder at the peek of the throw. The ball hand should not be straight over the head or a side arm motion The ball hand should not be straight over the head or a side arm motion • It is also important to keep the elbow at shoulder height when throwing to protect the shoulder and generate proper arm speed • As the throwing arm comes through the right foot will come off the rubber and carry in front of the position of the left foot – The throwing arm will continue across the body for complete follow through (throwing elbow to opposite knee) – The player will bend at the waste during this follow through motion allowing his momentum to carry him forward – After the pitch has been thrown the player will be bent over and leaning to his left. The player will need to immediately turn back toward home plate and get into a defensive position

Pitching Motion

Four Seam Fastball • To grip the four seam fastball, place your index and middle fingertips directly on the perpendicular seam of the baseball (younger pitchers can use 3 fingers). The "horseshoe seam" should face into your ring finger (pinky finger for young pitchers) of your throwing hand (as shown in the picture on the left). It is called the horseshoe seam simply because the seam itself looks like the shape of a horseshoe. • Next, place your thumb directly beneath the baseball, resting on the smooth leather (as shown in the picture on the right). Ideally, you should rest your thumb in the center of the horseshoe seam on the bottom part of the baseball. of the horseshoe seam on the bottom part of the baseball. • Grip this pitch softly, like an egg, in your fingertips. There should be a "gap" or space between the ball and your palm (as shown in the middle picture). This is the key to throwing a good, hard four-seam fastball with maximal backspin and velocity: A loose grip minimizes "friction" between your hand and the baseball. The less friction, of course, the quicker the baseball can leave your hand.

Two Seam Fastball • A two seam fastball, much like a sinker or cutter (cut fastball), is gripped slightly tighter and deeper in the throwing-hand than the four-seam fastball. This pitch generally is thought of as a "movement pitch" (as opposed to the four-seam fastball, which is primarily thought of as a "straight pitch"). • When throwing a two-seam fastball, your index and middle fingers (young pitchers can use three fingers) are placed directly on top of the narrow seams of the baseball (as shown in the picture on the left). • Next, place your thumb directly on the bottom side of the baseball and on the smooth • Next, place your thumb directly on the bottom side of the baseball and on the smooth leather in between the narrow seams (as shown in the picture on the right). • Again, a two seamer is gripped a little firmer than the four seamer. A firm grip causes friction, which causes the baseball to change direction, usually "backing up" - or running in - to the throwing hand side of the plate. It also slightly reduces the speed of the pitch, which is why most two-seamers register about 1 to 3 mph slower than four-seam fastballs.