Denville PAL Girls' Softball

Overview

The following provides some fundamentals for getting started in pitching but they are not a substitute for professional instruction. If a player shows talent, she should attend pitching clinics periodically or receive one-on-one instruction so an expert can offer advice and correct the inevitable flaws that can hinder progress. To become effective pitchers, girls must practice nearly every day.

Getting Started

In the Denville Recreation league, players do not begin pitching until they are in the Instructional Division (3rd and 4th grade). On the travel teams, players at all levels pitch. The youngest travel team is the 10U team (8-10 years old). However, it is not too early to teach a player the mechanics of windmill pitching at the age of six or seven, particularly if that player expects to pitch in the travel division. As the player learns to pitch, she should throw as hard as possible while still using correct mechanics. The player should not sacrifice mechanics for speed or accuracy. It will only hinder her development. Correct arm speed, wrist snap, body rotation, balance, stride length, and follow-through are the prerequisites to becoming a great pitcher.

The following instructions describe how a typical pitcher executes the windmill style pitch in fast pitch softball. Subtle differences will be seen from pitcher to pitcher or instructor to instructor but this serves as a useful guide to teaching the basic techniques. The instructions are written for a right-handed pitcher.

Setting up to Pitch

Amateur Softball Association (ASA) rules indicate the pitcher must initially stand behind the pitching rubber with both hands apart. The ball may be in either the bare hand or the glove hand. She then may step on the rubber. Before initiating the pitching motion, both feet must be in contact with the pitching rubber. The right heel should be placed over the front edge of the rubber. The left toe should touch the back edge of the rubber. The feet should be comfortably apart. The ball should be gripped with the padded parts of the fingertips and thumb resting on seams. The ball should not rest in the palm. There should be space between the ball and the hand in the area between the thumb and index finger. The thumb should be opposite the fingers to the extent possible. ASA rules indicate the pitching hand and glove hand must touch for at least one second before initiating the pitching motion.

Initiating the Windmill Motion

After the pitcher’s hands touch (usually at or below the waist near the right hip), she should shift her weight to the back foot. The pitcher should initiate the forward motion by extending the arms towards the catcher while beginning the stride forward with the back foot. The pitching arm should remain extended (but not locked) throughout the pitching motion. The elbow should be relaxed (but not bent). When extending the pitching arm forward, the hand should be on top of the ball or on the outside of the ball, but not under the ball. As the arm travels in a circle upward, back, down and forward towards the target, the wrist should rotate to present the ball towards third base and then second base (at the top rear of the arc). The glove hand should be pulled back and down past the left hip as the pitching arm approaches the right hip for delivery. The wrist should cock naturally on the downward swing of the pitching motion. The arm circle should remain true to the line between the pitcher and catcher. The arm speed should increase throughout the pitching motion with the highest speed occurring as the hand approaches the release point. There should be no hesitation in the pitching motion once it begins.

Body Rotation

At the beginning of the pitching motion, the pitcher’s hips should be square to the catcher. The hips should open (towards third base) as the arms and stride leg are extended forward and until the ball is released. Full rotation is generally around 45 degrees but may be as great as 90 degrees. The hips should return to a closed or square position (facing the catcher) after release of the ball. The shoulders and hips must rotate together back to the square position.

Leg Stride

The pitcher should get as much leg drive forward as possible while keeping the upper body balanced. The stride length should be aggressive, yet comfortable. The right foot should stay in contact with the ground as it is being pulled forward by the momentum generated by the leg stride. The left foot should be planted at a point on the line between the pivot foot and the catcher and the toe should be aimed at a point halfway between third base and the catcher. The right foot should plant so that the toe hits the ground first, then the heel.

Wrist Snap

A proper wrist snap is the key to control and speed. The pitcher’s wrist should naturally cock on the downward swing of the arm. The pitcher should follow that with a strong snap of the wrist at the bottom of the arm circle just off the right hip. The inside of the pitcher’s right forearm may actually brush the side of the hip as the wrist snap occurs. The snap of the wrist should be firm, but relaxed.

Balance

The pitcher’s body should be in an upright posture and balanced between the feet as the ball is released. After release of the ball, the pitcher’s forward momentum should carry her weight forward while she drags her right foot towards the left foot. The pitcher's weight should remain balanced between the feet. The pitcher should plant her toe first, then her heal of her stride foot to help achieve the proper balance.

Follow Through

After releasing the ball, the pitching arm should follow through in a natural motion. The hand should extend out towards the catchers glove and end up in a position near the right shoulder. As pitchers begin throwing a variety of pitches (e.g., drop, curve, rise ball), different follow-though positions will be used to create the spin necessary to achieve the desired pitch.