This Season
 

How to Throw a Fast Pitch in Softball

The softball fast pitch is a blazing, awesome throw to watch. Learn this incredible wind up to blow by the competition.

Related Searches:
    Difficulty:
    Easy

    Instructions

      • 1

        Learn the fastball windmill. Grip the ball across the horseshoe with two, three or four fingers. (The smaller the hand, the more fingers needed to control the ball.)

      • 2

        Rest the strong foot on the pitcher's plate, with the toes slightly over the plate.

      • 3

        Place the weak foot on the plate with the toes along its back edge.

      • 4

        Keep your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. This is most important for balance.

      • 5

        Keep your arms at your sides, with your belly facing the catcher.

      • 6

        Lift your back heel in the air as the weight is balanced on the power (front) leg.

      • 7

        Start by rocking your arms using a backward direction, and shift your weight onto the back leg.

      • 8

        Bring your arms forward, with the ball and glove together so that you hide the ball from the batter.

      • 9

        Rotate the pitching hand up and into the 12 o'clock position. Keep your arm relaxed and continue to rotate it in a perfect circle. The glove arm should be pointing toward the catcher's glove.

      • 10

        Release the ball at the hip, with a strong wrist snap.

      • 11

        Finish by facing the catcher.

    Tips & Warnings

    • Warm up substantially (for at least 20 to 30 minutes) with underhand and overhand throwing. Start throwing a close distance to the catcher, slowly moving back. Gradually work farther back, even to beyond the pitcher's plate.

    • Learn the fastball before moving on to other types of pitches.

    • Be aware that most youth leagues don't allow players to pitch with the back foot off the pitcher's plate.

    Related Searches

    Read Next:

    Comments

    • tdoc Apr 28, 2010
      im a 22 year old male who is in a coed fast pitch league. How can i pitch better
    • pitcher Oct 14, 2008
      Hi. I,m jeff 18 yrs old and having about 4 years experience of softball and 1.5 years pitching (fast pitcher). As i am saying i,m in position 5 of the provincial pitchers so I wanna be the number one pitcher,thus i need more techniques of how to be the better pitcher. May you please send me more intereting information of how to be the better pither at llepa@webmail.co.za
    • beanieyack May 09, 2007
      During Step 9 the pitcher needs to have already stepped forward with their "weak foot" and pivoted on their "strong foot" off of the mound, keeping contact with the ground, and rotated so their weak side is pointing towards the catcher and their arms are in an "L" like position. Then continue the circle motion downward and release the ball and their hip (pocket)before rotating the body to where their belly is facing the catcher again to finish and/or follow through, continuing arm motion up and bend to touch shoulder. Suggestion: Don't let rookie pitchers drag their strong foot behing them while they are releasing the ball, it twists their body and they will compensate by bending over or throwing sideways, taking accuracy off of the pitch. Have them drag their foot in a straight line from the center of the mound plate towards the catcher.
    • beanieyack May 09, 2007
      During Step 9 the pitcher needs to have already stepped forward with their "weak foot" and pivoted on their "strong foot" off of the mound, keeping contact with the ground, and rotated so their weak side is pointing towards the catcher and their arms are in an "L" like position. Then continue the circle motion downward and release the ball and their hip (pocket)before rotating the body to where their belly is facing the catcher again to finish and/or follow through, continuing arm motion up and bend to touch shoulder. Suggestion: Don't let rookie pitchers drag their strong foot behing them while they are releasing the ball, it twists their body and they will compensate by bending over or throwing sideways, taking accuracy off of the pitch. Have them drag their foot in a straight line from the center of the mound plate towards the catcher.
    • Aug 08, 2006
      When you first start to warm up, you don't want to strain you arm, so start out pitching very slow and close to you catcher. Then start speeding up by keeping you arm rotation speed the same but using wrist flicks. Gradually start to work up to your normal speed and distance little by little. This way your arm will be warm and ready to go!

    You May Also Like

    • How to Hit in Fast Pitch Softball

      Hitting a fast pitch softball is one of the most difficult skills to learn in all of sports. But if you master...

    • ASA Fastpitch Softball Pitching Rules

      ASA Fastpitch Softball Pitching Rules. The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) regulates softball rules for non-professional leagues across the country. ASA...

    • How to develop fastpitch softball players

      Training and teaching fast-pitch softball players is similar to developing baseball players, but there are critical differences. This article will cover the...

    • Fastpitch Softball Pitching Tips for Beginners

      Fastpitch Softball Pitching Tips for Beginners. As in baseball, an experienced softball pitcher can dictate the flow of a game by baffling,...

    • Softball Pitching Warmups

      Isolate the pitching arm without moving the feet to warm up for softball pitching. Learn how to warm up for advanced softball...

    • How to Know the Rules for Fast Pitch Softball

      There are two different types of softball: soft pitch and fast pitch. Fast pitch softball is considered the more challenging of the...

    • How to Slow Pitch a Softball

      In softball, you can choose between playing fast or slow pitch. Slow pitch differs in that it usually yields more hitting during...

    • How to Pitch a Softball

      Learn how and why pitching is the biggest difference between softball and baseball with expert softball tips in this free sports instruction...

    • How to Buy a Fast Pitch Softball Bat

      A fast pitch softball bat will be one of your most important pieces of equipment throughout the season. A wide variety of...

    • Youth Fastpitch Softball Rules

      Youth Fastpitch Softball Rules. Youth fastpitch softball in the United States is run as a series of local community leagues under the...

    Follow eHow

    Related Ads