Fastpitch softball pitching tips and drills

RISEBALL – To throw a good riseball, make sure the back of your elbow comes by your side at release. At release, drive the fingers underneath the ball. By pushing with the fingers at the proper release point with the back of your elbow brushing by the side, you should be able to get tight rotation on the ball. Be sure that when you workout with the TightSpin Trainer that you do it in the same release points that you would be in during normal pitching. This will not only create strength but also muscle memory. There is no other fastpitch pitching aid in the world that applies tension to a real fastpitch softball allowing you to work the muscles of the fingers, wrist, and forearm in the exact way that they are used to release the ball during live pitching.

CURVEBALL – The most important thing you should remember about throwing the curveball is that the palm of your hand is facing the sky at release. If it isn’t, you will not get the correct rotation on the ball. Snap the ball off at your back hip and follow through to your front hip. Place the TightSpin Trainer fastpitch pitching aid at the back hip, which is the same position that you are in during normal pitching. A good fastpitch pitching tip for the curveball is to get on two knees in the open position and practice throwing your curveball. This way you are already in the correct body position and all you have to think about is your wrist snap and putting the proper rotation on the ball.

SCREWBALL – A good drill for practicing your screwball is to get a hitting tee and place it about 15 feet in front of the pitcher. Place it in line with the center of home plate. Practice releasing the ball on the left side of the tee (right handed pitchers) and the ball should end up on the right side of the plate from the pitchers point of view. When you do this fastpitch pitching drill, don’t get frustrated if you hit the tee. This is normal. With a lot of practice you will eventually get it right and your screwball will be much improved. Make sure you work the TightSpin Trainer fastpitch softball pitching aid at your normal release point.

DROPBALL – A slightly shorter stride is usually helpful when throwing drop-balls. When throwing a drop, or any other pitch for that matter, make sure you keep your arm close to your body. Otherwise you could risk injuring your arm. When throwing the turnover drop ball you do not want to turn your elbow and shoulder out “chicken wing”. Focus on using the wrist and fingers to get up and over the ball.You may also find it helpful to throw a variation of the peel and turnover. By doing this the ball starts to peel off the fingers while you follow through up and over the ball. A good fastpitch pitching drill for the dropball is to take a string and tie it to two stakes about two feet off the ground. Get on one knee and practice thowing your dropball over the string and try to make it break down as it crosses the string. Also, some fastpitch softball pitchers find it helpful to take a slight crossover step and then throw the drop across their body. Again, work with the TightSpin Trainer at your normal release point.