> But does anyone have any tips on teaching a pitcher to throw one pitch at different speeds?
It's relatively simple to throw an "off speed" pitch.
Take your normal fastball/peel-drop and modify your grip such that your index finger and/or middle finger are folded. By not having these fingers long and extended behind the ball on release a pitcher can lose approximately 4mph.
I tend to agree with the young lady in the video. I like to teach power and speed first and then find accuracy with reps, mechanical refinements, and building confidence.
Throwing strikes, getting strike outs and getting lots of playing time is what builds a pitcher's confidence.
Going into the game, walking batters, hitting batters, throwing the ball over the backstop or in the dirt 5 feet in front of the batter and getting pulled out in the 2nd or 3rd inning is what DESTROYS a pitcher's confidence.
When all concious thought and effort is going into throwing as hard as you can, there is none left over to spend on hitting the target.
The young lady in the video said her feet are the steering wheel to hitting her spots, she is very mistaken.
Let's call an apple an apple here,
'Hitting your spots' is a round-about, candy-coated way of saying "throwing strikes' or 'Hitting the target (catcher's glove')). It really irritates me when a coach, parent or instructor tries to candy coat the truth when it comes to pitching.
It's very simple; "If ya can't throw strikes, WE CAN'T USE YA. That applies to experienced pitchers in 18u and new beginners in 10u. That is one coaching philosophy that NEVER changes (Unless it happens to be the coach's daughter).
"What are ya talkin about, 'not hitten her spots'??? She's hitten her spots just fine, it's just that today her 'spots' are EVERYWHERE other than the strike zone!!"
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That's hilarious!
Let's call an apple an apple here
