Pitching Drills

Drill 1 - Load-and-Go Drill

Step 1: We are going to start at the top of our pitching motion where our front leg is bent and we are loading on our back leg. We want to find a comfortable balance while we are at the top. 

Step 2: Repeating this three times, we are going to tap our front cleat on the mound and move our hands from right under our chest to right below our belly button, while trying to stay balanced and keep our load on the back foot. You need to focus on engaging your core and keeping the rest of your body in a still position. 

Step 3: After the third tap we are going to finish the drill by delivering a pitch to our catcher. We want the transition from the taps to our pitching motion to be fluid. This is a great pitching drill to get your session started as it slows down the process so you can focus on your balance and weight transfer. Therefore, enhancing your pitching motion. 

Drill 2 - Release Drill

Step 1: In this drill, we are going to focus on finishing with a wrist snap and targeting the strike zone. We are going to start in the final position of our pitching motion where the ball is about to leave our hand. Our feet are outstretched in our final stride toward the plate and our pitching arm is 90° from our shoulder with the ball by our ear. 

Step 2: In this position, we are going to pump our arm three times towards the plate with our hand facing the ground in the final position. Making sure to keep our balance and not let our shoulders drop in the process. 

Step 3: After the third pump, we are going to release the ball from our final position. For this to work we are going to focus on snapping our wrist and releasing the ball at the correct time to attack the zone. 

Step 4: Hold the final position for three seconds to take a mental note of how you finished on pitches that were placed correctly. Would you be able to field a line drive or ground ball from your finishing position? This is important if you do not like taking baseballs to the face.

Drill 3 - Stride Separation Drill

Step 1: This drill is going to test the middle position of our pitching motion. Our stance is going to be with our arms out the side and our front foot striding toward home plate. Our back arms are in a pitching position with the ball stretched out to second base and our glove arm bent - pointing to where the ball needs to go. 

Step 2: While in this position we are going to make sure to keep our balance with our chin in line with our belly button. While keeping our balance we are going to load the back leg with our weight and bring our leg up like we are about to pitch. 

Step 3: Just like we have done prior we are going to repeat the motion from step 2 three times, making sure to go slow on the way down. 

Step 4: After the third pump we are going to finish with a pitch to our catcher. Again make sure to hold the finish as we should make a mental note of how we are finishing our pitches. For each drill, our whole pitching motion is being tested with a focus on one aspect in each of these drills. 

Drill 4 - Low Balance Drive Drill

Step 1: In this final drill we are going to focus on our throwing mechanics during our balance point. Being balanced will help increase accuracy, pitching velocity, and much more. We are going to start with the low balance point where our front foot is in the middle of our stride about two inches in front of the back foot and off of the mound. Our hands will be at the load point which is right at the belly bottom with our thumbs facing inward. 

Step 2: After finding balance in this position we are going to start our pitching motion from this point. Deliver a ball to the catcher and hold your position after you have released the ball. Even though this drill is only two steps making sure to repeat until you are comfortable and getting the outcome you like is of utmost importance.