Drills for Pitchers

Use these drills to develop and feel the finer points of these specific pitches. Emphasizing the visual patterns for each pitch also helps develop the proper release point and follow-through. “Low Net Throws” and “Basket Throws” are for the drop, “Football Toss” and “Long Toss” are for the rise, and “Bucket Toss” and “Fast and Slow” are for the change-up.

Low Net Throws
Purpose: To focus on proper release and keeping drops low.
Procedure: From a distance of about 10 feet, the pitcher throws into the bottom of a catch net, exaggerating her release of the drop.


Basket Throws
Purpose: To focus on making the ball drop by using a visual target.
Procedure: The pitcher throws from regular distance and attempts to pitch the ball into a laundry basket at home plate. This drill helps imprint the image the pitcher should see before every drop pitch. The pitch can be thrown to a bucket, but the ball will not ricochet as much off the softer basket.


Football Toss
Purpose: To develop correct rise-ball release.
Procedure: The pitcher throws a junior-sized football underhand to a partner. Grip it along the seam with all the fingers and with the thumb on the opposite side. The ball should spiral. If it wobbles in flight, the palm has turned toward the catcher at release.


Long Toss
Purpose: To practice getting under the ball for rise-ball release. The drill also develops body and arm strength.
Procedure: The pitcher pitches to a catcher from second base or farther, lobbing the ball up as if she is throwing it over a telephone pole. This action forces the pitcher to get under the ball. To develop strength, the pitcher keeps backing up (from second base, to center field, to the fence) to see how far she can throw it.


Bucket Toss
Purpose: To practice keeping the change-up pitch low.
Procedure: The pitcher pitches the ball into a bucket two to three feet in front of home plate. She avoids having a big loop in the pitch.


Fast and Slow
Purpose: To practice changing speeds.
Procedure: Working with her catcher, the pitcher alternates fast and off-speed pitches. The goal is to keep the delivery the same.


GAMELIKE PITCHER DRILLS
Pitchers must do more than just throw the ball. Work with your pitchers on their fielding techniques to strengthen your infield, and include conditioning so they have strong legs they’ll need to go the distance in a game. Pitching under pressure is much more difficult than throwing in the bullpen, so coaches should use competitive drills to create gamelike pressure during pitching practice.


Pitchers Field and Cover First
Purpose: To practice fielding all types of balls after delivering a pitch. This is an excellent conditioning drill as well.
Procedure: The drill works best with at least three pitchers, a catcher, and a hitter. If you don’t have three pitchers, another player may play first and pitchers rotate only on the mound. Pitchers form a single-file line at the mound, and one pitcher is at first to catch the throw. The pitcher pitches the ball to the catcher, and the hitter hits a ground ball back to the pitcher for fielding practice. The pitcher fields, throws to first, and then rotates to first to receive the throw from the next pitcher. After catching at first, the receiver rotates to the end of the fielding line. Vary the type of balls hit, hitting to each side of the pitcher and bunting and slapping as well. Include a sequence of having pitchers look imaginary runners back before making the throw.


Pitchers Cover Home
Purpose: To practice footwork for covering home on wild pitches.
Procedure: Pitchers rotate on the mound, and catchers rotate at home. The pitcher throws a wild pitch to the catcher in receiving position and runs home to cover the plate for the return throw. The pitcher’s feet must be well out of the way of the sliding runner. The pitcher should call the catcher’s name and wave her arms until the throw is on its way.


Play a Game
Purpose: To experience gamelike pressure during pitching practice.
Procedure: The pitcher pitches a specific number of innings with the catcher calling balls and strikes. If you have a batter standing at the plate, she should assume different positions in the box and stand in as both a left-handed batter and a right-handed batter.


Three Points
Purpose: To create competition and pressure for the pitcher when pitching to a catcher’s targets.
Procedure: The catcher gives a target, and for advanced players she may call a pitch. If the pitcher hits the target, she gets one point. If she misses, she loses a point. When the pitcher reaches three points, the game is over. Add difficulty by requiring every fourth pitch to be a change-up.