I don’t think there is really a ranking system on how useful your pitches are. It depends on a lot of things like what pitches you’re better at, whether the batter is lefty or righty, whether you’re lefty or righty, whether the batter is short or tall, and then of course the batters personal preference. For example, a change-up could be the least useful pitch if the batter has trained herself to hit high and outside pitches. Whereas, a screw or a drop might be more useful pitching to that girl. The order I learned my pitches in is : fast, change, drop, screw, a second drop, and rise. But that may not be the case for everyone. 

I really wish I could answer questions like that better but it really depends on so much. My best advice would be to try everything out. For example, when I learned my change I was having a very hard time with it, so while I adjusted to throwing that, I started to learn drop and my coach said I was a natural. I ended up using drop balls in games before changes just because that was what was most comfortable to me. If you’re having a lot of trouble learning a pitch, then it probably won’t end up being very useful to you, so try another one because maybe you were in the same situation as me, and that pitch will end up being a lot more useful to you.

There are a lot of drills to do in the winter without going through the full motion, but I’d still advice you to do it. Try getting into a gym in the cold. I know my old middle school used to let me use their gym on certain weeknights. Try to find a big space where you can pitch just because you shouldn’t go months without pitching fully. Also, look into winter clinics. I did one last year for about 3 months I believe, and we worked on everything, not just pitching. If you’re at a good facility, they’re well worth it if you can afford it. However, there are loads of every day drills to do that will keep you sharp during the off-season. 

These and these are probably better to do with other people or you need other people, but they are good drills.  And these are very thorough drills, and they may not seem like much but are definitely key to increasing your skills. Hope I helped! :) 

It really depends on a lot of things. The person, the pitch, how you’re learning. For example, it took be about six months to learn a change-up comfortably enough for me to use it in a game but it only took me about three to learn a drop where I felt good using it in a game. I’m not saying it will be the same for you, it’s just that I had a lot of trouble with my change, where as my drop came a little more naturally to me. 

It also depends on which pitch it is, in the sense of how many you know already. For example, if you already know five pitches, your sixth will be easier than learning your seconds. Simply because you’re used to changing around the way you throw, and most likely it will be similar to another pitch. 

Also, it depends on how you learn. If you’re learning by instructions let’s just say online, or watching a video it will probably be a lot harder than if you have a pitching coach there with you to help you. 

I really wish I could answer you in a way that had some sort of number, but I really can’t. Sorry :| 

Of course! 

I just checked out this blog and it’s honestly amazing. Everyone that follows us should be following this blog! :D

Try to keep a nice tight, ear to hip arm circle and try to make it as quick as you can with still releasing at your hip of course. A good drill to do, is literally whip your arm around as fast as you can. I usually do it 15 times, stop, then do it again before each pitching drill I do. Also, make sure when you plant your landing foot, it’s hard into the ground and you feel the resistance that way when you release the ball it has all of your body’s energy with it. 

As for accuracy, as you’re trying to get your mark down, mark your stride on the dirt in front of you and once you feel satisfied with where you’re throwing, ALWAYS step in the same place. Also, you must release the ball at your hip for it to go where you want it to! :) Hope I helped! -leighann

Of course! I’m always up for helping anyone out! :) If you really want to try pitching it’s a great thing. And you do need a good, strong arm. The far throwing you would usually do, converts to having a harder, faster throw pitching wise. For accuracy, you need to learn the basic motions you need to make. I’ve said before it’s very hard explaining pitching without being able to show you so here’s a website that does it very well :)  http://www.pitchsoftball.com/default.asp Good luck! And even if you don’t do as well pitching, you always have your other positions to fall back on. !! :) 

I’ve said before beginning pitching is a very hard thing to explain so here are a few websites that I think explain it a lot better than I could aha. http://www.pitchsoftball.com/default.asp this is kind of like an intro to it, teaching you step by step what to do. and http://softballdrill.wordpress.com/category/pitching/ this is a few drills you can do to sharpen your skills once you get it down :) hope i helped! -leighann GOOD LUCK! :)

This is a normal thing to happen. It always feels like it’s so much easier pitching in practices. Try when you’re pitching to just your catcher have someone stand in the batters box, not even batting just standing there so you can simulate a game. Also, always be in the mindset of a game. Every time you pitch a ball you should be thinking ‘i need to get her out’ or ‘i need to throw a strike.’ Of course nothing is exactly like a game, but those are some things to remember to keep you focused. Also, you have to remember that everyone has bad days. A lot of pitchers tend to get angry when they have trouble finding the zone in a game because they completely blank out. Step off the mound for a few seconds, take a deep breathe, and go over everything in your mind: what you’re doing right, and wrong. If you realize something is wrong then try to fix it! Hope I helped! :) -leighann 

This happens to me on frustrating days. For one thing, you have to remember that everyone has bad days. I’m sure there are days when Jennie Finch tries to pitch and has trouble throwing a strike. It happens to everyone. Pitching however can be a way to relieve the stress. A lot of times, though it may sound weird, if you don’t think about the pitch and you just try to whip it in, it does what you want it to. If you over think each pitch and thing ‘oh I really want to throw a strike’ you tend to not do it. Hell! Even try closing your eyes! I’ve done that before (in practices) Also, a lot of pitchers tend to get angry when they have trouble finding the zone because they completely blank out. Step off the mound for a few seconds, take a deep breathe, and go over everything in your mind: what you’re doing right, and wrong. If you realize something is wrong then try to fix it! Hope I helped! :) -leighann

Most of your speed comes from your arm circle. Try to keep a nice tight, ear to hip arm circle and try to make it as quick as you can with still releasing at your hip of course. A good drill to do, is literally whip your arm around as fast as you can. I usually do it 15 times, stop, then do it again before each pitching drill I do. Also, make sure when you plant your landing foot, it’s hard into the ground and you feel the resistance that way when you release the ball it has all of your body’s energy with it. 

As for accuracy, as you’re trying to get your mark down, mark your stride on the dirt in front of you and once you feel satisfied with where you’re throwing, ALWAYS step in the same place. Also, you must release the ball at your hip for it to go where you want it to! :) Hope I helped! -leighann

^^ :)

Well there are two different things to consider. If you think you are in danger of getting hurt, and can’t handle catching for her then I would say immediately to go to your coach and tell him that you’re honestly afraid, and you’re not ready to catch for someone like her. 

If you think you can handle her, she’s just fast then it’s going to take some getting used to. They always say you get better when you’re playing with the best, so maybe her being a good pitcher can turn you into a better catcher. If this is the first time you have caught for her, I would give it another practice or two just to see if maybe you quickly get used to it, or start to feel like you can handle her pitches. :) good luck! -leighann