Category: Pitching
Type: Drill
FLAT GROUND SPOT WORK
At UCLA, our pitchers go through a thorough stretching and warm up routine each day of practice. That warm up is followed by long toss to strengthen their arms. This drill is designed to reinforce a pitcher's proper release point, as well as work on locating their pitches, after playing loss toss.
When extending the distance between partners in a game of long toss, a players release point moves back, closer to their head in an effort get enough air under the ball to reach their partner. Some coaches argue that the maximum length at which two players should play long toss, is a length at which the players can throw the ball on a relatively flat line. This keeps a player's release point out in front of the body and avoids putting extra stress on the shoulder that is present when a player releases the ball at an upward angle.
When our pitchers finish playing long toss, they work their way back to about 50 feet and finish by taking turns throwing to a squatting partner. This serves two purposes:
-First, it re-establishes a solid release point, out in front of the body and with a downward plane.
-Secondly, it is a good drill to work on maintaining your feel and spotting your pitches.
Our pitchers take turn throwing 4-6 pitches each, beginning with fastballs and working in change-ups and curveballs. We work on hitting spots, inside and outside, and executing proper release point to get a good downward plane. Rotate several times between pitcher and catcher, but be sure not to overthrow. Done most likely at the beginning of practice, it is important not to throw too much during this drill, in order to be ready to throw during practice.
Submitted by: Coach Adams
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